Balsas (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Valentim Fagundes de Meneses, M.S.C., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 3 October 1981
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sï¿½o Luï¿½s do Maranhï¿½o
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranhï¿½o
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 66,025 (25,502 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Official Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/diocesedebalsas
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, C.P. 18, Praca Getulio Vargas 149, Centro, 65800-000 Balsas, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (099)3541-2483
Fax: 3541-2566

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas
- Latin Name: Sancti Antonii de Balsas
- Erected: 20 December 1954
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Sï¿½o Luï¿½s do Maranhï¿½o
- State: Maranhï¿½o
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Diego Parodi, M.C.C.I. † (9 May 1959 Appointed - 25 Mar 1966 Resigned)
Rino Carlesi, M.C.C.I. † (12 Jan 1967 Appointed - 15 Apr 1998 Retired)
Gianfranco Masserdotti, M.C.C.I. † (15 Apr 1998 Succeeded - 17 Sep 2006 Died)
Enemï¿½sio ï¿½ngelo Lazzaris, F.D.P. † (12 Dec 2007 Appointed - 2 Feb 2020 Died)
Valentim Fagundes de Meneses, M.S.C. (29 Jul 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas
20 December 1954	Erected	Diocese of Caxias do Maranhï¿½o (Balsas, Alto Parnaï¿½ba, Riachï¿½o, Loreto, Benedito Leite, and S. Raimundo das Mangabeiras)	Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas (erected)
22 June 1968	Territory Added	Diocese of Caxias do Maranhï¿½o (Mirador, Nova York, Paraï¿½bano, Pastos Bons, and Sucupira do Norte)	Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas
Diocese of Balsas
3 October 1981	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas	Diocese of Balsas

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas

1965 98,000 100,000 98.0% 23 23 4,260 30 8 7 ap1967

1970 165,000 167,000 98.8% 25 25 6,600 33 15 10 ap1971

1976 166,000 170,000 97.6% 23 23 7,217 29 19 10 ap1977

1980 176,000 190,000 92.6% 2 17 19 9,263 22 30 13 ap1981

Diocese of Balsas

1990 224,000 240,000 93.3% 7 10 17 13,176 19 41 13 ap1991

1999 20,000 60,000 33.3% 7 7 14 1,428 21 14 43 4 ap2000

2000 20,000 60,000 33.3% 7 7 14 1,428 21 14 43 4 ap2001

2001 170,000 234,585 72.5% 13 5 18 9,444 11 34 16 ap2002

2002 171,000 235,578 72.6% 14 8 22 7,772 1 14 37 18 ap2003

2003 171,000 235,578 72.6% 18 8 26 6,576 2 14 36 16 ap2004

2004 171,000 235,578 72.6% 19 6 25 6,840 2 13 20 16 ap2005

2006 172,710 237,944 72.6% 19 8 27 6,396 2 13 36 17 ap2007

2012 193,000 287,000 67.2% 22 5 27 7,148 2 8 20 17 ap2013

2015 197,700 293,500 67.4% 22 4 26 7,603 2 11 21 17 ap2016

2018 201,500 301,000 66.9% 23 4 27 7,462 2 11 21 17 ap2019

2020 204,000 305,500 66.8% 23 4 27 7,555 2 11 21 17 ap2021

2022 207,600 310,000 67.0% 23 23 9,026 2 9 10 18 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas
1965	98,000	100,000	98.0%		23	23	4,260		30	8	7	ap1967
1970	165,000	167,000	98.8%		25	25	6,600		33	15	10	ap1971
1976	166,000	170,000	97.6%		23	23	7,217		29	19	10	ap1977
1980	176,000	190,000	92.6%	2	17	19	9,263		22	30	13	ap1981
Diocese of Balsas
1990	224,000	240,000	93.3%	7	10	17	13,176		19	41	13	ap1991
1999	20,000	60,000	33.3%	7	7	14	1,428	21	14	43	4	ap2000
2000	20,000	60,000	33.3%	7	7	14	1,428	21	14	43	4	ap2001
2001	170,000	234,585	72.5%	13	5	18	9,444		11	34	16	ap2002
2002	171,000	235,578	72.6%	14	8	22	7,772	1	14	37	18	ap2003
2003	171,000	235,578	72.6%	18	8	26	6,576	2	14	36	16	ap2004
2004	171,000	235,578	72.6%	19	6	25	6,840	2	13	20	16	ap2005
2006	172,710	237,944	72.6%	19	8	27	6,396	2	13	36	17	ap2007
2012	193,000	287,000	67.2%	22	5	27	7,148	2	8	20	17	ap2013
2015	197,700	293,500	67.4%	22	4	26	7,603	2	11	21	17	ap2016
2018	201,500	301,000	66.9%	23	4	27	7,462	2	11	21	17	ap2019
2020	204,000	305,500	66.8%	23	4	27	7,555	2	11	21	17	ap2021
2022	207,600	310,000	67.0%	23		23	9,026	2	9	10	18	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Rino Carlesi, M.C.C.I. † (Prelate: 12 Jan 1967; Bishop: 26 Oct 1981 to 15 Apr 1998)
Enemï¿½sio ï¿½ngelo Lazzaris, F.D.P. † (Bishop: 12 Dec 2007 to 2 Feb 2020)
Gianfranco Masserdotti, M.C.C.I. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 22 Nov 1995; Bishop: 15 Apr 1998 to 17 Sep 2006)
Diego Parodi, M.C.C.I. † (Apostolic Administrator: 16 Jul 1955; Prelate: 9 May 1959 to 25 Mar 1966)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of Santo Antï¿½nio de Balsas
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 206, to Page 208
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 60, Page 582, and Page 583
Diocese of Balsas
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 257, to Page 259

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