Diocese of

Alajuela

Costa Rica

Continent: Central America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Alajuela / Alaiuelen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: San José

Neighbouring Dioceses: Puntarenas (←), Tilarán–Liberia (↖), Ciudad Quesada (↑), San José (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nuestra Señora del Pilar (October 12)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: October 7

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1921.02.16: Established as Diocese of Alajuela / Alaiuelen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of San José and became suffragan of San José)
1954.08.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of San Isidro de El General
1961.07.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Tilarán
1995.07.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ciudad Quesada

Present Prelates

Bishop (2018.03.01 – ...):

Bishop Bartolomé Buigues Oller, T.C. (63)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica

Ordinaries

Bishops of Alajuela (Roman Rite)

Bishop Bartolomé Buigues Oller, T.C. (63)
(2018.03.01 – ...)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica)
Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica

Doy mi vida por las ovejas

Born:	1963.03.07 (Teulada, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1989.04.22
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.05.26

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (2018.03.01 – ...)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (2023.09.07 – 2026.08.07)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (2026.08.07 – ...)

Bishop Ángel San Casimiro Fernández, O.A.R. (83)
(2007.07.03 – 2018.03.01)

Bishop emeritus of Alajuela (Costa Rica)

Vobis enim episcopus vobiscum sum Christianus

Born:	1942.09.16 (Pradejón, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1965.10.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.10.07

Bishop of Ciudad Quesada (Costa Rica) (1995.07.25 – 2007.07.03)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (2002 – 2005)

General Secretary of Episcopal Secretariat of Central America and Panama (2005.03 – 2011)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (2007.07.03 – 2018.03.01)

Apostolic Administrator of Ciudad Quesada (Costa Rica) (2007.10 – 2008.03.19)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (2012 – 2017.08.11)

Bishop José Rafael Barquero Arce
(1980.12.22 – 2007.07.03)

Born:	1931.10.27 (San Rafael de Heredia, Costa Rica)
Ordained Priest:	1956.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.05.01
Died:	2020.11.29 (Alajuela, Costa Rica † 89)

Priest of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1956.12.22 – 1979.03.28)

Titular Bishop of Arindela (1979.03.28 – 1980.12.22)

Auxiliary Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1979.03.28 – 1980.12.22)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1980.12.22 – 2007.07.03)

Bishop Enrique Bolaños Quesada
(1970.03.06 – 1980.12.13)

Born:	1907.10.05 (Heredia, Costa Rica)
Ordained Priest:	1933.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.03.25
Died:	1992.04.27 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Andropolis (1962.12.06 – 1970.03.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1962.12.06 – 1970.03.06)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (1963 – 1970)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1970.03.06 – 1980.12.13)

Bishop Juan Vicente Solís Fernández
(1940.07.03 – 1967.03.30)

Born:	1892.08.08 (Heredia, Costa Rica)
Ordained Priest:	1915.08.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1940.08.18
Died:	1973.01.16 († 80)

Priest of San José (Costa Rica) (1915.08.18 – 1940.07.03)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1940.07.03 – 1967.03.30)

Titular Bishop of Thucca in Numidia (1967.03.30 – 1973.01.16)

Bishop Víctor Manuel Sanabria Martínez (later Archbishop)
(1938.03.12 – 1940.03.07)

Born:	1899.01.17 (San Rafael de Oreamuno, Costa Rica)
Ordained Priest:	1921.10.09
Consecrated Bishop:	1938.04.25
Died:	1952.06.08 († 53)

Priest of San José (Costa Rica) (1921.10.09 – 1938.03.12)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1938.03.12 – 1940.03.07)

Metropolitan Archbishop of San José (Costa Rica) (1940.03.07 – 1952.06.08)

Bishop Antonio del Carmen Monestel Zamora
(1921.03.10 – 1937.10.08)

Born:	1868.07.13 (San José, Costa Rica)
Ordained Priest:	1891.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1915.07.25
Died:	1937.10.08 († 69)

Priest of San José (Costa Rica) (1891.12.10 – 1915.01.23)

Titular Bishop of Sora (1915.01.23 – 1921.03.10)

Coadjutor Bishop of Comayagua (Honduras) (1915.01.23 – 1921.03.10)

Bishop of Alajuela (Costa Rica) (1921.03.10 – 1937.10.08)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop José Rafael Barquero Arce (1979.03.28 – 1980.12.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Enrique Bolaños Quesada (1962.12.06 – 1970.03.06)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de la Virgen del Pilar, Alajuela, Alajuela
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Puntarenas (←), Tilarán–Liberia (↖), Ciudad Quesada (↑), San José (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 2,784 km²

Population: 629,730 Catholics (69.1% of 911,475 total)

Pastoral Centres: 34 parishes

Personnel: 111 priests (98 diocesan, 13 religious), 1 deacon, 128 religious (20 brothers, 108 sisters), 20 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.08.23

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