The Diocese of Bluefields ( la, Dioecesis Bluefieldensis) is a

Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Joh ...

ecclesiastical jurisdiction or

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...

. The Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields had been erected on December 2, 1913 and had grown to approximately 587,000 Catholics by 2017. On November 30, 2017 the Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields was elevated to a diocese and a second diocese (the Diocese of Siuna) was created, taking approximately 60% of the Catholics that had formerly been in the Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields. The current bishop is Francisco José Tigerino Dávila.

History

* February 12, 1913: Established as ''Vicariate Apostolic of Bluefields'', on territory split off from the Diocese of León in Nicaragua * November 30, 2017: Lost territory to establish the Diocese of Siuna * November 30, 2017: Elevated as to the status of

Ordinaries

Agustín José Bernaus y Serra Agustín José Bernaus y Serra (16 August 1863 in Artesa de Segre – 18 January 1930) was a Spanish clergyman and bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious instit ...

OFMCap The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (; postnominal abbr. O.F.M. Cap.) is a religious order of Franciscan friars within the Catholic Church, one of Three " First Orders" that reformed from the Franciscan Friars Minor Observant (OFM Obs., now OFM ...

(1913–1930) *

Juan Solá y Farrell ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking communities around the world and in the Philippines, and also (pronounced differently) in the Isle of Man. In Spanish, t ...

, OFMCap (1931–1942) *

Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle Matteo Aloisio Niedhammer y Yaeckle OFMCap (September 11, 1901 - June 25, 1970) was a Capuchin friar and a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Born in New York City, New York, United States, Niedhammer y Yaeckle was ordained to the priesthood on J ...

, OFMCap (1943–1970) *

Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg Salvador Albert Schlaefer Berg O.F.M. Cap. (July 27, 1920 – October 22, 1993) was a Roman Catholic bishop. Born in Campbellsport, Wisconsin, United States, Schlaefer Berg was ordained a priest for the Capuchin order on June 5, 1946. On July ...

, OFMCap (1970–1993) *

Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon O.F.M. Cap. (born December 3, 1943) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who was bishop of Bluefields, Nicaragua, from 1994 to 2020. Biography Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States, on December 3, 1943, S ...

, OFMCap (1994–2020) * Francisco José Tigerino Dávila (2020– )

Auxiliary bishops

, OFMCap (1984-1994), appointed Vicar Apostolic here *

David Albin Zywiec Sidor David Albin Zywiec Sidor, OFM Cap (July 15, 1947 – January 5, 2020) was an American-Nicaraguan Roman Catholic bishop. Born in East Chicago, Indiana, United States, Zywiec Sidor was ordained to the priesthood, for the Capuchin order, on June 1, ...

, OFMCap (2002–2017)

External links

* Roman Catholic dioceses in Nicaragua Christian organizations established in 1913 Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century 1913 establishments in Nicaragua {{RC-diocese-stub

History

Ordinaries

Auxiliary bishops

See also

External links