Diocese of

Valledupar

Colombia

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Valledupar / Valleduparen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Barranquilla

Neighbouring Dioceses: El Banco (←), Santa Marta (↖), Riohacha (↑), Maracaibo (→), Machiques (↘), Tibú (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1952.12.04: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Valledupar / Valleduparen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Goajira)
1969.04.25: Promoted as Diocese of Valledupar / Valleduparen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Barranquilla)
2006.01.17: Lost territory to establish Diocese of El Banco

Present Prelates

Bishop (2003.06.10 – ...):

Bishop Oscar José Vélez Isaza, C.M.F. (71)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Valledupar (Roman Rite)

Bishop Oscar José Vélez Isaza, C.M.F. (71)
(2003.06.10 – ...)

Bishop of Valledupar (Colombia)

Born:	1954.11.04 (Pensilvania, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1975.12.12
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.07.19

Bishop of Valledupar (Colombia) (2003.06.10 – ...)

Bishop José Agustín Valbuena Jáuregui
(1977.09.09 – 2003.06.10)

Born:	1927.05.20 (Facatativá, Colombia)
Ordained Priest:	1949.11.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.10.25
Died:	2024.03.24 (Silvania, Colombia † 96)

Priest of Ibagué (Colombia) (1949.11.20 – 1977.09.09)

Bishop of Valledupar (Colombia) (1977.09.09 – 2003.06.10)

Bishop Vicente Roig y Villalba, O.F.M. Cap.
(1969.04.25 – 1977.04.05)

Born:	1904.08.29 (Guadasuar, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1927.12.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1945.03.11
Died:	1977.04.05 († 72)

Vicar Apostolic of Goajira (Colombia) (1944.12.15 – 1952.12.04)

Titular Bishop of Arad (1944.12.15 – 1969.04.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Valledupar (Colombia) (1952.12.04 – 1969.04.25)

Bishop of Valledupar (Colombia) (1969.04.25 – 1977.04.05)

Vicars Apostolic of Valledupar (Roman Rite)

Bishop Vicente Roig y Villalba, O.F.M. Cap.
(1952.12.04 – 1969.04.25)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral de Santo Ecce Homo, Valledupar, Cesar
Former Cathedral: Catedral Vieja Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Valledupar, Cesar
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

El Banco (←), Santa Marta (↖), Riohacha (↑), Maracaibo (→), Machiques (↘), Tibú (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 26,630 km²

Population: 990,000 Catholics (81.1% of 1,220,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 77 parishes, 26 missions

Personnel: 96 priests (89 diocesan, 7 religious), 27 deacons, 69 religious (7 brothers, 62 sisters), 65 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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