Zulia, Diocese of (Zuliensus), comprises the State of Zulia in the Republic of Venezuela. The Diocese of Zulia was erected by Leo XIII on 28 July, 1897, its territory being detached from the See of Merida. Francesco Marvez, the first bishop, was elected, 17 May, 1897, and consecrated, 16 Jan., 1898. At his death the see remained vacant from 17 Dec., 1904, to 16 Aug., 1910, being administered during this time by the capitular vicar Felipe S. Jiménez. Arturo Celestino Alvarez, consecrated 6 Nov., 1910, is the present bishop. Zulia is suffragan of Santiago de Venezuela, the episcopal residence being at Maracaibo. Its most notable buildings are: the cathedral, the churches of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Chiquinquira, the poor-house, and the insane asylum. The diocese possesses a preparatory seminary, the Colegio Don Bosco directed by the Salesian Fathers for boys, and an academy directed by the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne for girls, besides other Catholic schools. Among its charitable houses may be mentioned a lazaretto, two hospitals, a poor-house, an orphan asylum for boys and girls, an insane asylum, a house of refuge for poor girls, a school for beginners and one for poor children, all of which are under the care of the Sisters of Charity. Several Catholic periodicals are published in the diocese: diocese: “Boletin Eclesiastico”, the official organ of the diocese; ‘El Avisador”, daily; “La Propaganda Catolica”, fortnightly; “El Adalid”, monthly.
SILVA, Documentos para Historia de la Diocesis de Merida; CORDERO, Documentos para la Historica del Zulia; ROJAS, Leyen das Historicas; Guzman, Historia del Zulia; AROCHA, Diccionario Geografico Estadistico, e Historico del Zulia; SANCHEZ, Geografia del Zulia; Rivas, El Zulia Ilustrado.
Felipe S. Jimènez.