Diocese of Mar del Plata, Argentina

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Mar del Plata / Maris Platen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: La Plata

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Cecilia (November 22)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: February 9

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1957.02.11: Established as Diocese of Mar del Plata / Maris Platen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of La Plata and Diocese of Bahía Blanca and became suffragan of La Plata)
1980.03.27: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Chascomús

Contact Info

Address: Pasaje Catedral 1750 PB, B7600DQB, Mar del Plata, Argentina

Phone: (0223) 4944200

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.11.21 – ...):

Bishop José María Baliña (64)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Mar del Plata (Roman Rite)

Bishop José María Baliña (64)
(2023.11.21 – ...)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina)

Born:	1959.01.08 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1989.11.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.02.28

Priest of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1989.11.25 – 2015.01.16)

Titular Bishop of Theudalis (2015.01.16 – 2023.11.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (2015.01.16 – 2023.11.21)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (2023.11.21 – ...)

Bishop Gabriel Antonio Mestre (55) (later Archbishop)
(2017.07.18 – 2023.07.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina)

Cristo es nuestra paz

Born:	1968.09.15 (Mar del Plata, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1997.05.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.08.26

Priest of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1997.05.16 – 2017.07.18)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (2017.07.18 – 2023.07.28)

Metropolitan Archbishop of La Plata (Argentina) (2023.07.28 – ...)

Bishop Antonio Marino (81)
(2011.04.06 – 2017.07.18)

Bishop emeritus of Mar del Plata (Argentina)

Amoris officium

Born:	1942.03.13 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1971.11.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.05.31

Priest of Buenos Aires (Argentina) (1971.11.12 – 2003.04.11)

Titular Bishop of Baza (2003.04.11 – 2011.04.06)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (2003.04.11 – 2011.04.06)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (2011.04.06 – 2017.07.18)

Bishop Juan Alberto Puiggari (74) (later Archbishop)
(2003.06.07 – 2010.11.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Paraná (Argentina)

Instaurare omnia in Christo

Born:	1949.11.21 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1976.11.13
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.05.08

Priest of Paraná (Argentina) (1976.11.13 – 1998.02.20)

Titular Bishop of Turuzi (1998.02.20 – 2003.06.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Paraná (Argentina) (1998.02.20 – 2003.06.07)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (2003.06.07 – 2010.11.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Paraná (Argentina) (2010.11.04 – ...)

Bishop José María Arancedo (83) (later Archbishop)
(1991.11.19 – 2003.02.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz (Argentina)

Ut omnes unum sint

Born:	1940.10.26 (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1967.12.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.05.06

Priest of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina) (1967.12.16 – 1988.03.04)

Titular Bishop of Selemselæ (1988.03.04 – 1991.11.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lomas de Zamora (Argentina) (1988.03.04 – 1991.11.19)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1991.11.19 – 2003.02.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz (Argentina) (2003.02.13 – 2018.04.17)

Second Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (2008 – 2011.11.08)

President of Episcopal Conference of Argentina (2011.11.08 – 2017.11.07)

Bishop Rómulo García (later Archbishop)
(1976.01.19 – 1991.05.31)

Totus tuus

Born:	1927.03.24 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1950.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.09.24
Died:	2005.12.18 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Uzita (1975.08.09 – 1976.01.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1975.08.09 – 1976.01.19)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1976.01.19 – 1991.05.31)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bahía Blanca (Argentina) (1991.05.31 – 2002.06.15)

Bishop Eduardo Francisco Pironio (later Cardinal)
(1972.04.19 – 1975.09.20)

Christus in vobis spes gloriæ

Born:	1920.12.03 (Nueve de Julio, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1943.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1964.05.31
Created Cardinal:	1976.05.24
Died:	1998.02.05 (Vatican City State † 77)
Beatified:	2023.12.16 (Luján, Argentina)

Priest of Mercedes (Argentina) (1943.12.05 – 1964.03.24)

Titular Bishop of Cæciri (1964.03.24 – 1972.04.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1964.03.24 – 1972.04.19)

General Secretary of Latin American Episcopal Council (1968 – 1972)

President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1972 – 1975)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1972.04.19 – 1975.09.20)

Titular Archbishop of Thiges (1975.09.20 – 1976.05.24)

Pro-Prefect of Sacred Congregation for the Religious and Secular Institutes (1975.09.20 – 1976.05.29)

Cardinal-Deacon of Ss. Cosma e Damiano (1976.05.24 – 1987.06.22)

Prefect of Congregation for the Religious and Secular Institutes (1976.05.29 – 1984.04.08)

President of Pontifical Council for the Laity (1984.04.08 – 1996.08.20)

President of Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers (1985.02.16 – 1989.03.01)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Cosma e Damiano pro hac vice Title (1987.06.22 – 1995.07.11)

Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina–Poggio Mirteto (1995.07.11 – 1998.02.05)

Cardinal.

Bishop Enrique Rau
(1957.03.13 – 1971.08.11)

Born:	1899.09.29 (Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1922.12.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.07.01
Died:	1971.08.11 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Voncaria (1951.03.20 – 1954.10.23)

Auxiliary Bishop of La Plata (Argentina) (1951.03.20 – 1954.10.23)

Bishop of Resistencia (Argentina) (1954.10.23 – 1957.03.13)

Bishop of Mar del Plata (Argentina) (1957.03.13 – 1971.08.11)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Dario Rubén Quintana, O.A.R. (52) (2019.11.05 – 2022.04.21)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Rómulo García (later Archbishop) (1975.08.09 – 1976.01.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Catedral Basílica de los Santos Pedro y Cecilia, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires

Churches by City (50)

Bahía Blanca (←), Azul (↖), Chascomús (↑)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 22,850 km²

Population: 781,066 Catholics (76.0% of 1,027,162 total)

Pastoral Centres: 49 parishes, 133 missions

Personnel: 68 priests (47 diocesan, 21 religious), 14 deacons, 97 religious (23 brothers, 74 sisters), 12 seminarians