Archdiocese of Feira de Santana
The Archdiocese of Feira de Santana, a metropolitan see of the Latin Rite, is an active archdiocese located in the state of Bahia in Brazil. Established as a diocese on 21 November 1962 by Pope John XXIII, it was elevated to the rank of archdiocese on 16 January 2002. It serves as the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Feira de Santana and oversees a growing Catholic population in northeastern Brazil. The current archbishop is Zanoni Demettino Castro, who has led the archdiocese since 2015. Stored in Cargo: Archdiocese of Feira de Santana
| Diocese: Archdiocese of Feira de Santana | |
| Status: | Active |
| Rite: | Latin |
| Type: | Archdiocese |
| Ecclesiastical Province: | Province of Feira de Santana |
| Suffragan Dioceses: | Diocese of Alagoinhas; Diocese of Barra; Diocese of Barreiras; Diocese of Bom Jesus da Lapa; Diocese of Irecê; Diocese of Juazeiro; Diocese of Paulo Afonso; Diocese of Ruy Barbosa; Diocese of Serrinha |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Region: | Bahia |
| Bishop: | Zanoni Demettino Castro |
| Website: | https://arquidiocesefs.org.br/ |
| Catholic %: | 70.0% |
| Priests: | 120 |
| Existence: | 1962– |
| Rating: | 3.5 |
| Chancery Address: | Praça Monsenhor Renato de Souza Pinto, 1
Feira de Santana, BA 44001-010 Brazil |
Establishment
The Archdiocese of Feira de Santana was erected as a diocese on 21 November 1962 by Pope John XXIII, carved from territory previously belonging to the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia. It was elevated to metropolitan archdiocese status on 16 January 2002.
History
The territory that forms the archdiocese has roots in early colonial evangelization efforts in the Recôncavo region of Bahia. Following its establishment, the see experienced steady growth in parishes and institutions amid the expansion of the city of Feira de Santana as a commercial hub. The elevation to archdiocese in 2002 reflected the increasing Catholic population and the need for a metropolitan structure in the interior of Bahia.
Geography
The archdiocese covers parts of the central-eastern region of the state of Bahia, including the city of Feira de Santana and surrounding municipalities. It belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Feira de Santana.
Mother Church
The Cathedral of Saint Anne in Feira de Santana serves as the mother church of the archdiocese. The present structure dates from the mid-twentieth century and replaced earlier colonial-era churches on the same site.
Leadership
Current Bishop
Zanoni Demettino Castro has served as archbishop since 2015. A native of the region, he previously served as auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of São Salvador da Bahia.
Auxiliary Bishops
No auxiliary bishops are currently assigned.
Past Bishops
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Berenguer Prado | 1962–1969 | First bishop; transferred to Uberlândia. |
| Silvério Pinto de Oliveira | 1969–1972 | Died in office. |
| José Alves de Sá Trindade | 1973–1976 | Transferred to Montes Claros. |
| Itamar Franco de Oliveira | 1976–1980 | Transferred to Palmas-Francisco Beltrão. |
| José Edson Santana de Oliveira | 1980–2002 | Became first archbishop upon elevation. |
| Luiz Soares Vieira | 2002–2015 | Retired. |
| Zanoni Demettino Castro | 2015–present | Current archbishop. |
Theological and Cultural Orientation
The archdiocese maintains a balanced orientation (rating 3.5), with standard celebration of the Novus Ordo alongside occasional traditional practices and a focus on both doctrinal formation and social outreach programs typical of the Brazilian Church.
Statistics
The archdiocese serves approximately 1.2 million Catholics across numerous parishes in its territory.
Religious Communities
Several religious institutes are active in education and pastoral ministry, including the Salesians and various congregations of sisters dedicated to teaching and healthcare.
Parishes
The archdiocese comprises dozens of parishes organized under several vicariates.
Mission and Services
Catholic Education
The archdiocese supports a network of Catholic schools at the elementary and secondary levels.
Community Outreach
Catholic Charities and parish-based initiatives provide assistance to the poor and migrants in the region.
Notable Events or Figures
- The elevation to archdiocese in 2002 marked a significant milestone for the local Church.
Fun facts
Below are some fun facts about the Archdiocese of Feira de Santana:
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Associated saints
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Religious orders
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Diocesan photos
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