Diocese of Chiclayo

Stored: Diocese of Chiclayo

Diocese: Diocese of Chiclayo
Status:
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Type:	Suffragan diocese
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Metropolitan Archdiocese:
Country:	Peru
Region:	Lambayeque
Bishop:	Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova
Website:	https://www.diocesischiclayo.org/
Newspaper:
Catholic Percentage:	%
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Existence:	–
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The Diocese of Chiclayo (Latin: Dioecesis Chiclayensis) is a Latin Church suffragan diocese of the Catholic Church in Peru, located in the northwestern Lambayeque region. Established on December 17, 1956, by Pope Pius XII, it operates under the Ecclesiastical Province of Piura. The current bishop, Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova, O.S.A., has led since February 14, 2024. As of 2021, the diocese serves approximately 1,121,770 registered Catholics across 48 parishes, covering the Lambayeque department and the Santa Cruz Province of Cajamarca. The diocese plays a vital role in fostering Catholic faith and community outreach in a region marked by urban and rural diversity.

Establishment

The Diocese of Chiclayo was established on December 17, 1956, by Pope Pius XII through the papal bull Sicut materfamilias. It was created from territory split off from the Diocese of Cajamarca and the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trujillo, with Chiclayo as its episcopal see. The first bishop, Daniel Figueroa Villón, was appointed to lead the diocese, which initially included three provinces of Lambayeque and three provinces of Cajamarca (Santa Cruz, Chota, and Cutervo).

History

Early Development (1956–1980)

The diocese’s early years focused on establishing parishes and infrastructure. Under Bishop Daniel Figueroa Villón (1956–1967), the diocese acquired land for the Seminario Mayor Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo in 1959, laying the foundation for priestly formation. In 1963, the provinces of Chota and Cutervo were separated to form the Territorial Prelature of Chota, refining the diocese’s boundaries. By 1970, the diocese served 370,500 Catholics with 82 priests across 30 parishes.

Growth and Consolidation (1980–2014)

Under Bishop Ignacio María de Orbegozo y Goicoechea (1968–1998), the diocese expanded its pastoral outreach, increasing parishes to 39 by 1990. Bishop Jesús Moliné Labarte (1998–2014) introduced five pastoral zones (arciprestazgos) to manage the growing number of parishes, reaching 42 by 2000. The diocese addressed poverty and rural isolation with support from religious communities like the Congregation of Jesús Verbo y Víctima.

Modern Era (2014–Present)

Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. (2015–2023), implemented policies to address clergy sexual abuse, adapting U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ guidelines. In 2022, allegations surfaced that Prevost failed to investigate abuse cases, which the diocese denied, stating he initiated canonical investigations and encouraged civil reporting. Prevost was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, and Bishop Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova succeeded him in 2024, focusing on evangelization and social outreach.

Geography

The Diocese of Chiclayo spans the Lambayeque department and the Santa Cruz Province of Cajamarca, covering 15,649 km² (6,044 square miles). It includes urban centers like Chiclayo and rural sierra areas. The diocese is divided into five pastoral zones:

• Centro-Este: Includes Chiclayo’s urban parishes.
• Oeste: Covers districts like La Victoria.
• Norte: Encompasses Lambayeque and coastal towns.
• Este-Sierra: Includes Ferreñafe and sierra parishes.
• Sierra: Covers Cañaris and Incahuasi in Ferreñafe.

Mother Church

Santa María Catedral in Chiclayo serves as the mother church of the diocese. Known as Catedral de Santa María, this historic structure is the episcopal see and hosts major liturgies, including ordinations and feast days like Nuestra Señora de la Paz.

Leadership

Current Bishop

Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova, O.S.A., has served as bishop since February 14, 2024. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, he previously served as a missionary and diocesan administrator, focusing on pastoral renewal and community engagement.

Past Bishops

Name	Tenure	Notes
Daniel Figueroa Villón	1956–1967	First bishop; established seminary; died in office.
Ignacio María de Orbegozo y Goicoechea	1968–1998	Expanded parishes; died in office.
Jesús Moliné Labarte	1998–2014	Introduced pastoral zones; retired.
Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.	2015–2023	Appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Statistics

The Diocese of Chiclayo covers 15,649 square miles (40,531 km²). As of 2021, it serves 1,121,770 registered Catholics (89.9% of 1,248,000 total population) across 48 parishes and 2 pastoral sectors, with 119 priests (98 diocesan, 21 religious). The diocese supports 40 religious communities and 8 apostolic movements.

Parishes

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The diocese serves over 1121770 Catholics through its 48 parishes and [Data unavailable] Catholic schools. Please use Form:Parish to create parishes. The list of it's parishes can be found at https://www.diocesischiclayo.org/parroquias.

Parish Name	City	Website
Santa María Catedral	Chiclayo	Santa María Catedral
Santa Lucía	Ferreñafe	[No website available]
San Pedro	Lambayeque	[No website available]
La Inmaculada	José Leonardo Ortiz	[No website available]

• Note*: This table includes a sample of parishes due to space constraints. A complete list is available on the diocese’s website.

Mission and Services

Parishes

The diocese oversees 48 parishes across five pastoral zones, serving as centers for worship, catechesis, and community engagement. Parishes like Santa María Catedral and San Pedro support diverse liturgical and social programs.

Catholic Education

The diocese supports Catholic education through the Seminario Mayor Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, training priests, and parish-based catechetical programs. Specific data on schools is unavailable, but religious communities contribute to educational outreach in rural areas.

Catholic Schools

Data on specific Catholic schools under the diocese’s jurisdiction is limited. The diocese prioritizes catechetical formation and supports educational initiatives through religious communities, particularly in sierra parishes.

Community Outreach

The diocese engages in community service through parish-based programs addressing poverty and health needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, parishes like Eten’s, led by priests such as Eleuterio Vázquez Gonzáles, established community kitchens. The diocese also supports 40 religious communities and movements like the Opus Dei prelature for evangelization.

External Links

• Santa María Catedral
• [No Catholic Charities equivalent; see diocesan website for outreach programs]