Recanati
The Diocese of Macerata
Hello friends, today I want to talk about the Diocese of Macerata! This is one of the dioceses of the Catholic Church in Italy and belongs to the ecclesiastical region of Marche. The current bishop is Nazzareno Marconi and, in 2019, the diocese had 141,490 baptized out of 147,180 inhabitants.
The Territory
The diocese covers 13 municipalities in the province of Macerata, including Macerata, where the episcopal seat and the Cathedral of Macerata, formerly the cathedral of the diocese, are located. Moreover, there are also other cities such as Tolentino, Recanati, Cingoli, and Treia that have beautiful cathedrals. In the territory also rise two minor Basilicas, such as the Basilica of San Nicola da Tolentino, and a Sanctuary-basilica such as Santa Maria della Misericordia in Macerata. The diocese is divided into 5 Vicariates with 67 parishes.
Religious Communities
In 2018, the Diocese of Macerata included many religious communities, including the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, the Order of Friars Minor, the Daughters of Sorrow, and the Dominican Nuns. There are also male religious communities such as the Servants of Mary in Montefano and the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ in Recanati, and female religious communities such as the Benedictine Nuns in Cingoli and the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters in Cingoli.
History
The Diocese of Macerata was erected on November 18, 1320, with the pontifical Bull Sicut ex debito of Pope John XXII at the expense of the city of Recanati. When Recanati regained the episcopal seat in 1356, the two dioceses were united "aeque principaliter". After a short interval, their union lasted until March 1586. Originally, the diocese was immediately subject to the Holy See and extended to the sea, including the territory of Loreto with Recanati.
In summary, the Diocese of Macerata is one of the oldest cities in the Marche region and has a very interesting history. In addition to its artistic and cultural beauties, it is also a place of great religious tradition, and its territory hosts numerous religious communities. If you are in the area, do not miss the opportunity to discover this beautiful city!
