Lim�n (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Javier Gerardo Rom�n Arias, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 30 December 1994
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of San Jos� de Costa Rica
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Costa Rica
Square Kilometers: 9,189 (3,549 Square Miles)
Description: Entire Caribbean province of Costa Rica, three Forane Vicariates: San Marcos, San Lucas, and San Mateo
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesisdelimon.org
Mailing Address: Obispado, Apartado 1312, 7300 Limón, Costa Rica
Telephone: 2798.08.98; 2758.00.93
Fax: 2758.00.93

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n
- Latin Name: Limonensis
- Erected: 16 February 1921
- Vicariate
- Country: Costa Rica

Past and Present Ordinaries

Agust�n Blessing Presinger, C.M. † (16 Dec 1921 Appointed - 1 Feb 1934 Died)
Karl Albert Wollgarten, C.M. † (28 Jan 1935 Appointed - 28 Apr 1937 Died)
Johann Paul Odendahl Metz, C.M. † (10 Feb 1938 Appointed - 13 Jan 1957 Died)
Alfonso Hoefer (H�fer) Hombach, C.M. † (7 Jan 1958 Appointed - 15 Nov 1979 Resigned)
Alfonso Coto Monge † (7 Mar 1980 Appointed - 30 Dec 1994 Resigned)
Jos� Francisco Ulloa Rojas (30 Dec 1994 Appointed - 24 May 2005 Appointed, Bishop of Cartago)
Jos� Rafael Quir�s Quir�s (2 Dec 2005 Appointed - 4 Jul 2013 Appointed, Archbishop of San Jos� de Costa Rica)
Javier Gerardo Rom�n Arias (21 Mar 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n
16 February 1921	Erected	Diocese of San Jos� de Costa Rica (Lim�n and the Carthaginian Canton of Turrialba)	Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n (erected)
1 April 1927	Territory Added	Archdiocese of San Jos� de Costa Rica (Turrialba and part of Heredia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n
Diocese of Lim�n
30 December 1994	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n	Diocese of Lim�n
24 May 2005	Territory Lost	Diocese of Lim�n (Nuestra Se�ora de Los �ngeles; San Buenaventura; San Isidro Labrador; Santa Cruz; Santa Rosa de Lima, and Santa Teresita) Archdiocese of San Jos� de Costa Rica	Diocese of Cartago (erected) (San Cristobal del Cant�n de Desamparados and Cartago except La Union)
28 June 2006	Territory Lost	Diocese of Lim�n (San Antonio en Turrialba)	Archdiocese of San Jos� de Costa Rica

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n

1949 60,100 75,250 79.9% 1 10 11 5,463 11 6 ap1951

1966 120,000 140,000 85.7% 5 9 14 8,571 9 30 9 ap1967

1970 118,809 134,955 88.0% 19 10 29 4,096 10 33 13 ap1971

1976 147,562 167,562 88.1% 10 7 17 8,680 8 31 15 ap1977

1980 152,350 184,082 82.8% 9 10 19 8,018 21 33 15 ap1981

1990 223,762 265,559 84.3% 16 12 28 7,991 12 45 16 ap1991

Diocese of Lim�n

1999 319,857 383,402 83.4% 29 12 41 7,801 13 42 19 ap2000

2000 326,000 390,000 83.6% 33 7 40 8,150 8 44 20 ap2001

2001 327,401 409,251 80.0% 31 7 38 8,615 8 42 20 ap2002

2002 327,401 409,251 80.0% 34 6 40 8,185 7 40 20 ap2003

2003 333,580 427,667 78.0% 31 7 38 8,778 9 49 20 ap2004

2004 348,591 446,912 78.0% 30 6 36 9,683 7 45 21 ap2005

2013 263,453 323,000 81.6% 20 3 23 11,454 4 32 15 ap2014

2016 273,394 335,162 81.6% 21 2 23 11,886 3 31 15 ap2017

2019 322,316 449,781 71.7% 27 4 31 10,397 6 39 16 ap2020

2021 333,330 465,140 71.7% 31 4 35 9,523 5 32 17 ap2022

2023 340,000 474,527 71.7% 30 5 35 9,714 9 33 17 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n
1949	60,100	75,250	79.9%	1	10	11	5,463	11		6	ap1951
1966	120,000	140,000	85.7%	5	9	14	8,571	9	30	9	ap1967
1970	118,809	134,955	88.0%	19	10	29	4,096	10	33	13	ap1971
1976	147,562	167,562	88.1%	10	7	17	8,680	8	31	15	ap1977
1980	152,350	184,082	82.8%	9	10	19	8,018	21	33	15	ap1981
1990	223,762	265,559	84.3%	16	12	28	7,991	12	45	16	ap1991
Diocese of Lim�n
1999	319,857	383,402	83.4%	29	12	41	7,801	13	42	19	ap2000
2000	326,000	390,000	83.6%	33	7	40	8,150	8	44	20	ap2001
2001	327,401	409,251	80.0%	31	7	38	8,615	8	42	20	ap2002
2002	327,401	409,251	80.0%	34	6	40	8,185	7	40	20	ap2003
2003	333,580	427,667	78.0%	31	7	38	8,778	9	49	20	ap2004
2004	348,591	446,912	78.0%	30	6	36	9,683	7	45	21	ap2005
2013	263,453	323,000	81.6%	20	3	23	11,454	4	32	15	ap2014
2016	273,394	335,162	81.6%	21	2	23	11,886	3	31	15	ap2017
2019	322,316	449,781	71.7%	27	4	31	10,397	6	39	16	ap2020
2021	333,330	465,140	71.7%	31	4	35	9,523	5	32	17	ap2022
2023	340,000	474,527	71.7%	30	5	35	9,714	9	33	17	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jos� Rafael Quir�s Quir�s (Bishop: 2 Dec 2005 to 4 Jul 2013)
Javier Gerardo Rom�n Arias (Bishop: 21 Mar 2015 - )
Jos� Francisco Ulloa Rojas (Bishop: 30 Dec 1994 to 24 May 2005)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Agust�n Blessing Presinger, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 Dec 1921 to 1 Feb 1934)
Alfonso Coto Monge † (Vicar Apostolic: 7 Mar 1980 to 30 Dec 1994)
Alfonso Hoefer (H�fer) Hombach, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 7 Jan 1958 to 15 Nov 1979)
Johann Paul Odendahl Metz, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Feb 1938 to 13 Jan 1957)
Karl Albert Wollgarten, C.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 1935 to 28 Apr 1937)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Lim�n
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 13, Page 252, to Page 255
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 412, and Page 413
Diocese of Lim�n
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 87, Page 338, to Page 340

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Diocese of Lim�n

Dioecesis Limonensis