Diocese of

Limoeiro do Norte

Brazil

Continent: South America

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Limoeiro do Norte / Limoëiren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Fortaleza

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: São Miguel (September 29)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1938.05.07: Established as Diocese of Limoeiro do Norte / Limoëiren(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fortaleza and became suffragan of Fortaleza)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.05.10 – ...):

Bishop André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (58)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Limoeiro do Norte (Roman Rite)

Bishop André Vital Félix da Silva, S.C.I. (58)
(2017.05.10 – ...)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil)

Com os olhos fixos em Jesus

Born:	1965.05.31 (Recife, PE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1991.01.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.07.08

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (2017.05.10 – ...)

Bishop José Haring, O.F.M.
(2000.01.19 – 2017.05.10)

Unidos na mesma Fé

Born:	1940.12.20 (Gronau, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1967.07.22
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.03.20
Died:	2023.12.24 (Fortaleza, CE, Brazil † 83)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (2000.01.19 – 2017.05.10)

Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (99)
(1994.05.18 – 1998.05.06)

Bishop emeritus of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil)

Verbum caro factum

Born:	1924.10.03 (Acaraú, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1948.12.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1966.11.06

Priest of Sobral (Brazil) (1948.12.05 – 1966.08.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of São Luís do Maranhão (Brazil) (1966.08.08 – 1974.07.03)

Titular Bishop of Vicus Cæsaris (1966.08.08 – 1994.05.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Fortaleza (Brazil) (1974.07.03 – 1994.05.18)

Apostolic Administrator sede plena of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1992 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1994.05.18 – 1998.05.06)

Bishop Manuel Edmilson da Cruz (99)
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1992 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop Pompeu Bezerra Bessa
(1973.01.25 – 1994.05.18)

Born:	1923.11.18 (Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1949.12.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.05.01
Died:	2000.07.23 († 76)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1973.01.25 – 1994.05.18)

Bishop José Freire Falcão (later Cardinal)
(1967.08.19 – 1971.11.25)

Servir em humildade

Born:	1925.10.23 (Ererê, CE, Brazil)
Ordained Priest:	1949.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.06.17
Created Cardinal:	1988.06.28
Died:	2021.09.26 (Brasilia, DF, Brazil † 95)

Priest of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1949.06.19 – 1967.04.24)

Titular Bishop of Vardimissa (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Coadjutor Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1967.08.19 – 1971.11.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Teresina (Brazil) (1971.11.25 – 1984.02.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brasília (Brazil) (1984.02.15 – 2004.01.28)

Second Vice-President of Latin American Episcopal Council (1987 – 1991)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Luca a Via Prenestina (1988.06.28 – 2021.09.26)

Died of COVID-19.

Bishop Aureliano de Matos
(1940.01.30 – 1967.08.19)

Born:	1889.06.17
Ordained Priest:	1914.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1940.09.29
Died:	1967.08.19 († 78)

Bishop of Limoeiro do Norte (Brazil) (1940.01.30 – 1967.08.19)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop José Freire Falcão (later Cardinal) (1967.04.24 – 1967.08.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conceiçao, Limoeiro do Norte, Ceará

Churches by City (26)

Iguatu (↙), Quixadá (←), Fortaleza (↖), Mossoró (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 18,451 km²

Population: 443,890 Catholics (81.9% of 542,315 total)

Pastoral Centres: 27 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 40 priests (30 diocesan, 10 religious), 35 religious (13 brothers, 22 sisters), 11 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2024.05.19

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