Established on May 14, 1949, as the Diocese of Campina Grande, on territory split off from the
Archdiocese of Paraíba, its Metropolitan since. It lost territory on January 17, 1959, to establish the
Diocese of Patos.
Statistics
As of 2014[update], it pastorally serves 807,000 Catholics (87.0% of 928,000 total) in 20,051 km2 (7,742 sq mi) in 52 parishes with 92 priests (69 diocesan, 23 religious), 1 deacon, 131 lay religious (67 brothers, 64 sisters) and 25 seminarians.
Manuel Pereira da Costa (August 23, 1962 – retired May 20, 1981), died 2006; previously Titular Bishop of
Knin (May 31, 1954 – June 20, 1959) as Auxiliary Bishop of
Archdiocese of Paraíba (Brazil) (May 31, 1954 – June 20, 1959), Bishop of
Nazaré (Brazil) (June 20, 1959 – August 23, 1962)
Luís Gonzaga Fernandes (July 9, 1981 – August 29, 2001), died 2003; previously Titular Bishop of
Mididi (November 6, 1965 – July 9, 1981) as Auxiliary Bishop of
Archdiocese of Vitória (Brazil) (November 6, 1965 – July 9, 1981)
Matias Patrício de Macêdo (August 29, 2001 – November 26, 2003), next Metropolitan Archbishop of
Natal (Brazil) (November 26, 2003 – December 21, 2011); previously Bishop of
Cajazeiras (Brazil) (July 12, 1990 – July 12, 2000), Coadjutor Bishop of Campina Grande (Brazil) (July 12, 2000 – succession August 29, 2001)
Jaime Vieira Rocha (February 16, 2005 – December 21, 2011); previously Bishop of
Caicó (Brazil) (November 29, 1995 – February 16, 2005); next Metropolitan Archbishop of
Natal (Brazil) (December 21, 2011 – ...)
Dulcênio Fontes de Matos (October 11, 2017 – present); previously Titular Bishop of Cozyla as Auxiliary Bishop of Aracajú (in Sergipe) (April 18, 2001 – July 12, 2006), Bishop of Palmeira dos Índios (in Alagoas) (July 12, 2006 – October 11, 2017)