Roman Catholic Diocese of Punta Arenas
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Punta Arenas (in Latin
: 'Dioecesis Punta Arenas ) is a suffragan diocese
of the Archdiocese of Puerto Montt, in Chile
. Its current bishop
is Mgr. Bernardo Bastres Florence, S.D.B. and the retired (emeritus
) bishop is Mgr. Tomás Osvaldo González Morales.
established the Apostolic Prefecture of Patagonia Meridional, Tierra del Fuego e Islas Malvinas, which was entrusted to the Salesian congregation. In 1916, the prefecture was upgraded and its name changed to Apostolic Vicariate
of Magallanes e Islas Malvinas, and on 17 January 1947, Pope Pius XII
erected the diocese proper by means of the Bulla
"Ut in amplissimo Patagoniae Chilensis territorio". In 1952, the Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands
was separated from the diocese.
All the bishops of the diocese of Punta Arenas have belonged to the Salesian congregation.
an region of Magallanes (Magallanes y Antártida Chilena), covers a territory of 112,302 km². It is estimated than 79% of the inhabitants of the diocese are Catholic . This figure represents about 120,000 Catholics out of a total population of 151,000.
Punta Arenas is the southernmost diocese in the whole Roman Catholic Church and its parish
Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in Puerto Willians (Navarino island), is the southernmost Catholic parish in the world.
The mother church
of the diocese is the Cathedral
of El Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart) in the city of Punta Arenas
.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: 'Dioecesis Punta Arenas ) is a suffragan diocese
Suffragan Diocese
A suffragan diocese is a diocese in the Catholic Church that is overseen not only by its own diocesan bishop but also by a metropolitan bishop. The metropolitan is always an archbishop who governs his own archdiocese...
of the Archdiocese of Puerto Montt, in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Its current bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
is Mgr. Bernardo Bastres Florence, S.D.B. and the retired (emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
) bishop is Mgr. Tomás Osvaldo González Morales.
History
In 1883 the Holy SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
established the Apostolic Prefecture of Patagonia Meridional, Tierra del Fuego e Islas Malvinas, which was entrusted to the Salesian congregation. In 1916, the prefecture was upgraded and its name changed to Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
of Magallanes e Islas Malvinas, and on 17 January 1947, Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
erected the diocese proper by means of the Bulla
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
"Ut in amplissimo Patagoniae Chilensis territorio". In 1952, the Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands
Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands
The Apostolic Prefecture of Falkland Islands is a Roman Catholic apostolic prefecture located in the Falkland Islands and covering the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, and Tristan da Cunha.-History:...
was separated from the diocese.
All the bishops of the diocese of Punta Arenas have belonged to the Salesian congregation.
Diocesan statistics
The diocese, which comprises the entire ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an region of Magallanes (Magallanes y Antártida Chilena), covers a territory of 112,302 km². It is estimated than 79% of the inhabitants of the diocese are Catholic . This figure represents about 120,000 Catholics out of a total population of 151,000.
Punta Arenas is the southernmost diocese in the whole Roman Catholic Church and its parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in Puerto Willians (Navarino island), is the southernmost Catholic parish in the world.
The mother church
Mother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
of the diocese is the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of El Sagrado Corazón (Sacred Heart) in the city of Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas is a commune and the capital city of Chile's southernmost region, Magallanes and Antartica Chilena. The city was officially renamed Magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to Punta Arenas...
.
Bishops
- Abraham Aguilera Bravo S.D.B. † (22 December 1916 - 24 October 1924 appointed bishop of San Carlos de Ancud)
- Arturo Jara Márquez S.D.B. † (29 January 1926–1938 resigned)
- Vladimiro Boric Crnosija S.D.B. † (1 February 1949 - 29 August 1973 died)
- Tomás Osvaldo González Morales S.D.B. (28 March 1974 - 4 March 2006 retired)
- Bernardo Bastres Florence S.D.B. (appointed 4 March 2006)
Parishes
- Sagrado Corazón (Cathedral), Punta Arenas
- María Auxiliadora, Punta Arenas
- Cristo Obrero, Punta Arenas
- San Miguel, Punta Arenas
- Nuestra Señora de Fátima, Punta Arenas
- María Auxiliadora, Puerto NatalesPuerto NatalesPuerto Natales is a city in Chilean Patagonia. Puerto Natales is the capital of both the commune of Natales and the province of Última Esperanza, , one of the four provinces that make up the Magallanes and Antartica Chilena Region in the southernmost part of Chile...
- San Francisco de Sales, Puerto Porvenir (Tierra del FuegoTierra del FuegoTierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of , and a group of smaller islands including Cape...
) - Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Puerto WilliamsPuerto WilliamsPuerto Williams is a Chilean port, located on Isla Navarino facing the Beagle Channel. It is the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, one of four provinces located in the Magellan and Chilean Antartica Region...
(in Navarino islandIsla NavarinoIsla Navarino is a Chilean island located strategically between Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, to the north, and Cape Horn, to the south. The island forms part of the Commune of Cabo de Hornos, the southernmost commune in Chile and in the world, belonging to Antártica Chilena Province in the XII...
) - Padre Hurtado, Cerro Sombrero