Diocese of Stella Maris
| Diocese of Stella Maris Dioecesis Stella Maris | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Ecclesiastical province | Province of Santo Domingo |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 588.87 km2 (227.36 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 2025) 1,291,516 943,762 (73.1%) |
| Parishes | 64 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 27 August 2025 |
| Cathedral | Stella Maris Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Our Lady, Star of the Sea |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Manuel Antonio Ruíz de la Rosa |
The Diocese of Stella Maris (Latin: Dioecesis Stella Maris) is a Roman Catholic suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. It was established in 2025.
History
The diocese was erected on August 27, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV with territory from the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo. This is the second diocese established by the pontiff, following Kapsabet in Kenya.[1][2]
Territory
Stella Maris's territory includes the municipalities of Santo Domingo Este, San Antonio de Guerra, and Boca Chica, formerly of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo. Before the creation of Stella Maris, the Santo Domingo had a larger Catholic population than the Archdioceses of New York or Chicago.[3]
Cathedral and patron
Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) is an ancient title of Mary, and the diocese received this name because it is made up of coastal areas. The cathedral of the diocese is Stella Maris in Santo Domingo Este.[4][5]
Ordinaries
- Bishop Manuel Antonio Ruíz de la Rosa (2025-)
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Diocese of Stella Maris is a diocese of the catholic church of the Catholic Church.[6]
References
- Back to citation "Pope splits up massive archdiocese in Dominican Republic | News Headlines". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- Back to citation "León XIV erige la Diócesis de Stella Maris en República Dominicana - L'Osservatore Romano". www.osservatoreromano.va (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- Back to citation "Pope splits up massive archdiocese in Dominican Republic | News Headlines". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2025-12-13; "León XIV erige la Diócesis de Stella Maris en República Dominicana - L'Osservatore Romano". www.osservatoreromano.va (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-13; "Rinunce e nomine". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 2025-12-13; "Major changes happening in the Dominican Roman Catholic Church". DR1.com. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- Back to citation Paredes, Mario J. (2025-11-07). "For you I am a Bishop; with you I am a Christian". Exaudi. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- Back to citation Libre, Diario (2025-08-27). "¿Qué es Stella Maris? La nueva diócesis católica en Santo Domingo Este creada por el papa León XIV". Diario Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-12-13.
- Back to citation Wikidata item Q135982607
External links
- "Diocese of Stella Maris". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2025-12-12.