Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra

History

Erected by Pope Paul V on July 5, 1605 as the Diocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, this Bolivian see (Latin: Archidioecesis Sanctae Crucis de Sierra) was raised to a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Paul VI on July 30, 1975, receiving San Ignacio de Velasco as its suffragan see. Its archbishop, currently René Leigue Cesari, is seated at the Cathedral-Basilica of San Lorenzo.

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• Bishop Stanislaw Dowlaszewicz delivers homily in Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra

  Bishop Stanislaw Dowlaszewicz delivered a homily in the Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra on September 27, 2026, expressing condolences for the death of Archbishop Ricardo Ernesto Centellas Guzmán. Dowlaszewicz, an auxiliary bishop, thanked God for the life and episcopal ministry of the late Archbishop Primate of Sucre. He asked for comfort for the Church in Sucre and strength for the family of the deceased. The prelate also marked the 216 years of the Grito Libertario in Santa Cruz. He echoed a call from Monsignor René Leigue to seek unity by setting aside differences, stating that building better days for Santa Cruz is a task for everyone and cannot be limited to a single sector. Addressing the parable of the two sons, Dowlaszewicz explained that a true response to God is measured by how words are converted into life rather than just by spoken words. He noted that the ability to change decisions teaches that people can always correct mistakes and start again.

  Sep 27, 2026 · Catholic Life

• Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra holds XXIX Encuentro Arquidiocesano

  More than 200 people attended the 29th Archdiocesan Meeting of Basic Ecclesial Communities on September 20 at the Jesús Maestro Chapel. Held under the theme "Basic Ecclesial Communities, seed of a Church on the move," the gathering focused on turning reflection into concrete actions. During the meeting, members of the Santa Lucía and Navidad communities shared their pastoral experiences, including their daily activities, organizational structures, and work styles within their parishes and chapels. These presentations illustrated how the communities live their faith and address local needs. Archbishop Emeritus Sergio Gualberti said the presentations helped participants understand basic ecclesial communities as a new way of being Church. He noted that this experience serves as a constant invitation to renewal and a responsibility for community members to assume.

  Sep 23, 2026 · Dioceses · 2 sources

• Bishop Juan Gómez presides over Mass for 42nd anniversary of Pastoral Juvenil Vocacional

  Sep 23, 2026 · Dioceses · 2 sources

• Archbishop René Leigue Cesari preaches on God's reward

  Sep 21, 2026 · Liturgy · 2 sources

• Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra celebrates Auxiliary Bishop Estanislao Dowlaszewicz's birthday

  The Archdiocese of Santa Cruz de la Sierra celebrated the birthday of Auxiliary Bishop Estanislao Dowlaszewicz on September 20. In an official statement, the Archdiocese expressed gratitude for the bishop's years of service to the local Church. The community thanked him for accompanying pastoral communities, listening to the people, and sharing in the challenges of his ministry. The Archdiocese offered prayers for his continued health and strength in his missionary work.

  Sep 20, 2026 · Bishops

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