The Roman Catholic Diocese of Baucau (; ; ) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste. One of three dioceses in the country, it was established in 1996 by Pope John Paul II. It serves nearly 400,000 Catholics in the municipalities of Baucau, Lautém, Manatuto, and Viqueque, covering a total area of 6,987 km2 (2,698 square miles). The current bishop of Baucau is Leandro Maria Alves since 2023.
The mother church of the diocese is St. Anthony Cathedral in Baucau. The diocese has 22 parishes and is served by 81 priests, 30 religious brothers, and 184 religious sisters. It operates a number of primary and secondary schools and administers health and social programs within its territory.
History November 30, 1996: Established as the Diocese of Baucau from the Diocese of Díli
When the diocese was started there were only 21 priests plus a number of nuns from several religious congregations to serve about 200,000 Catholics. In 2018 there were 150 young men from Baucau Diocese studying in seminaries.UCANews March 13, 2018
Current events Bishop Basilio do Nascimento launched Radio Fini Lorosae (eastern future radio), the new radio station set up by Baucau diocese, on March 20, 2006 following a Mass held at St. Anthony Cathedral to mark the diocese's ninth anniversary. The station office is located just 100 meters from the cathedral. Baucau Vicar General Father Francisco da Silva and Father Jose Antonio, the cathedral parish priest, concelebrated the anniversary Mass. UCANews March 28, 2006
On 19 May 2007 President Alexander Xanana Gusmão awarded the Dom Martinho da Costa Lopes Medal to Father Mario do Carmo Lemos Belo, former vicar general of the Baucau diocese and several deceased Catholic clergy and Religious in recognition of their contributions to the liberation of the country.UCANews May 25, 2007
In 2009 the government gave US$1.5 million to two dioceses in East Timor — Dili and Baucau, which they are to receive annually “to run social programs for people”. Poverty remains a massive problem since independence in 2002, with about half of the 1 million population unemployed and 45 per cent living on less than US$1 a day.UCANews September 22, 2009
On 23 June 2016 the blessing and dedication of the new St John de Brito chapel took place in Cairui in Baucau, built with project support from Catholic Mission (Australia).Catholic Mission website Accessed 22 August 2016
The Maria Auxiliadora Medical Clinic run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in the town of Venilale, has been serving the residents of Venilale and 13 surrounding villages for many years. In 2014, the clinic cared for more than 7,300 patients focusing on the care of mothers and babies.Mission Newswire October 21, 2015
Bishops
Bishop Basílio do Nascimento (6 March 2004 – 30 October 2021; apostolic administrator from 30 November 1996) Bishop Leandro Maria Alves (26 April 2023 – present)
Structure The Diocese of Baucau is a suffragan diocese within the ecclesiastical province of Dili. Along with the bishops of Dili and Maliana, the bishop of Baucau is a member of the Timorese Episcopal Conference. The conference is represented in the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.
Territory The diocese covers a total area of 6,987 km2 (2,698 square miles). Its territory comprises the eastern municipalities of Baucau, Lautém, Manatuto, and Viqueque. The diocese borders the Archdiocese of Dili to the west. As of 2022, the diocese has a total population of 408,778, of whom 398,538 (97.5%) are Catholic. The remaining few thousand are roughly divided equally between Protestants and non-Christians, including Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and animists.
Personnel The diocese is led by Bishop Leandro Maria Alves, who is assisted by vicar general Msgr. Francisco Pinheiro da Silva. As of 2022, the diocese has 43 secular priests and 38 religious priests, with 68 seminarians in formation. Additionally, there are 30 religious brothers and 184 religious sisters living and working in the diocese. In 2022, there were 516 catechists in the diocese. As of 2018, six male religious congregations were operating in the diocese, along with 23 female congregations.
Parishes As of 2022, the diocese was divided into 22 parishes, with 206 missions. In 2024, Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Fátima in Mehara became the diocese's newest parish; previously, it was a mission of the Lospalos parish. ParishLocationMunicipalitySão José OperárioBaguiaBaucauSagrado Coração de JesusBaucauBaucauSt. Anthony (cathedral)BaucauBaucauLagaBaucauQuelicaiBaucauVemasseBaucauVenilaleBaucauNossa Senhora do Rosário de FátimaIliomarLautémCristo ReiLautémLautémLospalosLautémNossa Senhora Rainha dos ApóstolosLuroLautémNossa Senhora do Rosário de FátimaMeharaLautémSão Vicente FerrerLacloManatutoNossa Senhora da GraçaLaclubarManatutoLaleiaManatutoManatutoManatutoNossa Senhora da Imaculada ConceiçãoNatarboraManatutoSagrado Coração de JesusSoibadaManatutoSanto AntónioLaclutaViquequeNossa Senhora do Imaculado CoraçãoNaharecaViquequeOssuViquequeNossa Senhora de FátimaUatulariViquequeNossa Senhora do Rosário de FátimaUatucarbauViquequeViquequeViqueque
See also Catholic Church in Timor-Leste List of Catholic dioceses in Timor-Leste
References
External links GCatholic.org Catholic Hierarchy papal bull - papal bull of 30 November 1996 establishing the diocese of Baucau, accessed from vatican.va (bull published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. LXXXIX (1997), n. 2, p. 86)