Graja� (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Giuseppe Luigi Spiga, Bishop
Serafino Faustino Spreafico, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 9 October 1984
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Maranh�o
Country: Brazil
Square Kilometers: 38,742 (14,964 Square Miles)
Conference Region: Nordeste 5
Official Web Site: http://diocesegrajau.org.br/
Mailing Address: Curia Diocesana, Praca Dom Roberto Colombo 60, 65940-000 Grajau, MA, Brazil
Telephone: (099)3532-8025

Historical Details

Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�
- Latin Name: Sancti Iosephi de Graiau
- Erected: 10 February 1922
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o
- Country: Brazil
Diocese of S�o Jos� do Graja�
- Latin Name: Sancti Iosephi de Graiau
- Elevated: 4 August 1981
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o
- Country: Brazil

Past and Present Ordinaries

Roberto Giulio Colombo, O.F.M. Cap. † (18 Dec 1924 Appointed - 8 Nov 1927 Died)
Emiliano Giuseppe Lonati, O.F.M. Cap. † (10 Jan 1930 Appointed - 19 Feb 1966 Retired)
Adolfo Lu�s Bossi, O.F.M. Cap. † (19 Feb 1966 Succeeded - 22 Aug 1970 Resigned)
Valentino Giacomo Lazzari, O.F.M. Cap. † (18 May 1971 Appointed - 6 Jan 1983 Died)
Tarc�sio Sebasti�o Batista Lopes, O.F.M. Cap. † (4 Apr 1984 Appointed - 19 Dec 1986 Appointed, Bishop of Ipameri, Goias)
Serafino Faustino Spreafico, O.F.M. Cap. (13 May 1987 Appointed - 2 Nov 1995 Resigned)
Franco Cuter, O.F.M. Cap. † (21 Jan 1998 Appointed - 7 Dec 2016 Retired)
Rubival Cabral Britto, O.F.M. Cap. (7 Dec 2016 Appointed - 13 Mar 2024 Appointed, Bishop of Bom Jesus da Lapa, Bahia)
Giuseppe Luigi Spiga (17 Feb 2025 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�
10 February 1922	Erected	Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o (Sancta Cruz da Borra do Gorda, San Pedro de Alcantara de Carolina, N. Senhor do Bomfim de Grajahu, S. Thereza de Imperatriz e Porto Franco, and S. Francisco Xavier de Turyassu)	Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja� (erected)
22 July 1939	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja� (Turia�u and Carutapera) Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o (Pinheiro, Alc�ntara, Cururupu, Guimar�es, Bequim�o, and Santa Helena)	Territorial Prelature of Pinheiro (erected)
14 January 1958	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja� (Carolina, Amarante, Imperatriz, Montes Altos, Porto Franco, and Presidente Vargas)	Territorial Prelature of Carolina (erected)
22 June 1968	Territory Lost	Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja� (Esperantinopolis) Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o (Parts of Bacabal and Ipixuna along with Altamira do Maranh�o, Igarap� Grande, Lago da Pedra, Lago do Junco, Lago Verde, Lima Campos, Olho d'�gua dos Cunhas, Pedreiras, Pio XII, Po��o de Pedras, Rosinopolis, Santo Antonio dos Lopes, and Vitorino Freir�)	Diocese of Bacabal (erected)
22 June 1968	Territory Added	Archdiocese of S�o Lu�s do Maranh�o (Dom Pedro and Governador Archer)	Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�
Diocese of S�o Jos� do Graja�
4 August 1981	Elevated	Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�	Diocese of S�o Jos� do Graja�
Diocese of Graja�
9 October 1984	Name Changed	Diocese of S�o Jos� do Graja�	Diocese of Graja�

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�

1966 127,000 130,000 97.7% 16 16 7,937 18 6 ap1967

1970 179,670 195,000 92.1% 17 17 10,568 18 16 8 ap1971

1976 210,200 212,400 99.0% 2 16 18 11,677 19 20 9 ap1977

1980 235,000 255,000 92.2% 18 15 33 7,121 17 23 9 ap1981

Diocese of S�o Jos� do Graja�

Diocese of Graja�

1990 337,000 408,000 82.6% 5 13 18 18,722 14 20 11 ap1991

1999 300,000 400,000 75.0% 6 14 20 15,000 14 26 10 ap2000

2000 276,250 325,000 85.0% 7 14 21 13,154 14 26 11 ap2001

2001 297,500 350,000 85.0% 8 16 24 12,395 16 25 11 ap2002

2002 314,500 370,000 85.0% 9 15 24 13,104 23 27 11 ap2003

2003 314,500 370,000 85.0% 10 14 24 13,104 21 29 11 ap2004

2004 314,500 370,000 85.0% 12 13 25 12,580 20 28 11 ap2005

2006 307,000 384,000 79.9% 10 11 21 14,619 18 32 12 ap2007

2013 335,000 419,000 80.0% 12 10 22 15,227 5 27 32 13 ap2014

2016 329,000 409,679 80.3% 14 12 26 12,653 11 30 27 14 ap2017

2019 337,600 447,903 75.4% 18 16 34 9,929 13 34 41 19 ap2020

2021 337,338 479,740 70.3% 19 16 35 9,638 11 37 48 24 ap2022

2023 313,304 434,038 72.2% 24 14 38 8,244 11 32 51 21 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�
1966	127,000	130,000	97.7%		16	16	7,937			18	6	ap1967
1970	179,670	195,000	92.1%		17	17	10,568		18	16	8	ap1971
1976	210,200	212,400	99.0%	2	16	18	11,677		19	20	9	ap1977
1980	235,000	255,000	92.2%	18	15	33	7,121		17	23	9	ap1981
Diocese of S�o Jos� do Graja�
Diocese of Graja�
1990	337,000	408,000	82.6%	5	13	18	18,722		14	20	11	ap1991
1999	300,000	400,000	75.0%	6	14	20	15,000		14	26	10	ap2000
2000	276,250	325,000	85.0%	7	14	21	13,154		14	26	11	ap2001
2001	297,500	350,000	85.0%	8	16	24	12,395		16	25	11	ap2002
2002	314,500	370,000	85.0%	9	15	24	13,104		23	27	11	ap2003
2003	314,500	370,000	85.0%	10	14	24	13,104		21	29	11	ap2004
2004	314,500	370,000	85.0%	12	13	25	12,580		20	28	11	ap2005
2006	307,000	384,000	79.9%	10	11	21	14,619		18	32	12	ap2007
2013	335,000	419,000	80.0%	12	10	22	15,227	5	27	32	13	ap2014
2016	329,000	409,679	80.3%	14	12	26	12,653	11	30	27	14	ap2017
2019	337,600	447,903	75.4%	18	16	34	9,929	13	34	41	19	ap2020
2021	337,338	479,740	70.3%	19	16	35	9,638	11	37	48	24	ap2022
2023	313,304	434,038	72.2%	24	14	38	8,244	11	32	51	21	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Tarc�sio Sebasti�o Batista Lopes, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 4 Apr 1984 to 19 Dec 1986)
Adolfo Lu�s Bossi, O.F.M. Cap. † (Coadjutor Prelate: 18 Jun 1958; Prelate: 19 Feb 1966 to 22 Aug 1970)
Roberto Giulio Colombo, O.F.M. Cap. † (Apostolic Administrator: 15 Sep 1922; Prelate: 18 Dec 1924 to 8 Nov 1927)
Franco Cuter, O.F.M. Cap. † (Bishop: 21 Jan 1998 to 7 Dec 2016)
Valentino Giacomo Lazzari, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prelate: 18 May 1971; Bishop: 17 Sep 1981 to 6 Jan 1983)
Emiliano Giuseppe Lonati, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prelate: 10 Jan 1930 to 19 Feb 1966)

Source(s)

Territorial Prelature of S�o Jos� do Graja�
- Acta Apostolic� Sedis, Volume 14, Page 331, to Page 334
- Acta Apostolic� Sedis, Volume 60, Page 582, and Page 583

Diocese of Graja�

Acta Apostolic� Sedis, Volume 77, Page 85, and Page 86

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Diocese of Graja�

Dioecesis Graiahuensis