Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez, Ecuador 🇪🇨

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Méndez / Mendezen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Cuenca (↙), Azogues (←), Riobamba (↖), Ambato (↖), Puyo (↑), Iquitos (→), Yurimaguas (↘), Zamora (↓), Jaén en Perú (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1893.02.17: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez y Gualaquiza / Mendezen(sis) e Gualaquiza (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Napo)
1951.04.12: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Méndez / Mendezen(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic (2008.04.15 – ...):

Bishop Néstor Vidal Montesdeoca Becerra, S.D.B. (68)

Titular Bishop of Cellæ in Mauretania

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Méndez (Roman Rite)

Bishop Néstor Vidal Montesdeoca Becerra, S.D.B. (68)
(2008.04.15 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador)
Titular Bishop of Cellæ in Mauretania

Lux in tenebris

Born:	1957.04.29 (El Pan, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1986.08.30
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.06.21

Titular Bishop of Cellæ in Mauretania (2008.04.15 – ...)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador) (2008.04.15 – ...)

Bishop Pietro Gabrielli Zen, S.D.B.
(1993.07.01 – 2008.04.15)

Born:	1931.03.17 (Pove del Grappa, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1962.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.09.19
Died:	2026.02.06 (Macas, Ecuador † 94)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador) (1993.07.01 – 2008.04.15)

Titular Bishop of Taparura (1993.07.01 – 2026.02.06)

Bishop Teodoro Luis Arroyo Robelly, S.D.B.
(1981.01.24 – 1993.07.01)

Born:	1929.07.21 (Riobamba, Ecuador)
Ordained Priest:	1958.10.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.04.26
Died:	2000.10.13 († 71)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador) (1981.01.24 – 1993.07.01)

Titular Bishop of Castellum Tatroportus (1981.01.24 – 2000.10.13)

Bishop José Félix Pintado Blasco, S.D.B.
(1963.08.17 – 1981.01.24)

Born:	1903.05.18 (Huesca, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1930.04.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.04.05
Died:	1987.11.19 († 84)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador) (1958.11.13 – 1963.08.17)

Titular Bishop of Phoba (1958.11.13 – 1987.11.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador) (1963.08.17 – 1981.01.24)

Bishop Domingo Comin, S.D.B.
(1951.04.12 – 1963.08.17)

Born:	1874.09.09 (Santa Lucia di Budoja, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1900.04.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1920.10.17
Died:	1963.08.17 (Guayaquil, Ecuador † 88)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez y Gualaquiza (Ecuador) (1920.03.05 – 1951.04.12)

Titular Bishop of Obba (1920.03.05 – 1963.08.17)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez (Ecuador) (1951.04.12 – 1963.08.17)

Vicars Apostolic of Méndez y Gualaquiza (Roman Rite)

Bishop Domingo Comin, S.D.B.
(1920.03.05 – 1951.04.12)

(see above)

Bishop Santiago Costamagna, S.D.B.
(1895.03.18 – 1919)

Born:	1846.03.23 (Caramagna Piemonte, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1868.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1895.05.23
Died:	1921.12.09 (Buenos Aires, Argentina † 75)

Vicar Apostolic of Méndez y Gualaquiza (Ecuador) (1895.03.18 – 1919)

Titular Bishop of Colonia (1895.03.18 – 1921.12.09)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop José Félix Pintado Blasco, S.D.B. (1958.11.13 – 1963.08.17)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Purísima de Macas, Macas, Morona-Santiago

Cuenca (↙), Azogues (←), Riobamba (↖), Ambato (↖), Puyo (↑), Iquitos (→), Yurimaguas (↘), Zamora (↓), Jaén en Perú (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 25,690 km²

Population: 137,820 Catholics (79.7% of 172,940 total)

Pastoral Centres: 22 parishes

Personnel: 44 priests (17 diocesan, 27 religious), 14 deacons, 125 religious (31 brothers, 94 sisters), 12 seminarians