Diocese of Puerto Plata

Stored in Cargo: Diocese of Puerto Plata

Diocese: Diocese of Puerto Plata
Status:	Active
Rite:	Latin
Type:	Suffragan diocese
Ecclesiastical Province:	Province of Santiago de los Caballeros
Metropolitan Archdiocese:	Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros
Country:	Dominican Republic
Region:	Puerto Plata Province
Bishop:	Julio César Corniel Amaro
Existence:	1996–
Chancery Address:	Obispado, Calle José del Carmen Ariza 36, Puerto Plata, República Dominicana

The Diocese of Puerto Plata, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese in the Dominican Republic. Founded in 1996 by Pope John Paul II, it is led by Bishop Julio César Corniel Amaro as of 2020. As part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Santiago de los Caballeros, the diocese serves Catholic communities along the northern coast of the country.

Establishment

The Diocese of Puerto Plata was established on 16 December 1996 by Pope John Paul II to serve the growing Catholic population in the northern coastal region of the Dominican Republic.

History

The diocese was created from territory previously part of the Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros. Its development has focused on pastoral care for local communities in a historically mixed religious region.

Geography

The diocese covers Puerto Plata Province in the Dominican Republic and is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Santiago de los Caballeros.

Mother Church

The Cathedral of San Felipe Apóstol in Puerto Plata serves as the diocese’s mother church.

Leadership

Current Bishop

Julio César Corniel Amaro has served since 2020.

Auxiliary Bishops

None.

Past Bishops

Name	Tenure	Notes
Gregorio Nicanor Peña Rodríguez	1997–2004	First Bishop of Puerto Plata; transferred to Diocese of Our Lady of the Altagracia in Higüey.
Julio César Corniel Amaro	2020–present	Current Bishop.

Statistics

The diocese serves registered Catholics across multiple parishes in Puerto Plata Province.

Religious Communities

No major religious communities are documented at this time.

Parishes

The diocese includes parishes serving the faithful in Puerto Plata Province.

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The diocese supports Catholic education through local schools.

Community Outreach

Community outreach includes standard diocesan charitable activities.

Notable Events or Figures

• The diocese was erected to strengthen Catholic presence in the northern Dominican Republic.

Fun facts

Below are some fun facts about the Diocese of Puerto Plata:

Did you know? The Diocese of Puerto Plata was established in 1996 by Pope John Paul II, making it one of the more recently created dioceses in the Dominican Republic.

Surprise! Its territory was taken from the Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros to better serve coastal communities.

Here's something cool: The mother church is the Cathedral of San Felipe Apóstol, dedicated to the apostle Philip.

Wow moment: The first bishop, Gregorio Nicanor Peña Rodríguez, later became bishop of another see in the country.

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Associated saints

No saints yet.

Religious orders

No religious orderes categorized yet.

Diocesan photos

No results

External Links

• Catholic-Hierarchy entry