About the Diocese of Rio 

History of the Diocese of Rio De Janeiro (IEAB)

A new Companion Diocese

Many large dioceses have more than one companion at a time. Atlanta has joined those ranks with companions in Central Eucuador and Rio de Janeiro

Bishop Celso de Oliveria visited the Diocese of Atlanta in June 2003 and invited an Atlanta team to visit Rio de Janeiro. That v 

Three Virginia seminary graduates opened Brazil as a mission field for the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) in 1890.

The diocese of Rio de Janeiro whose geographic boundaries include the 3 states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Espirito was formed in 1950.

IEAB became a seprarate province of Anglican Communion in 1965.

The Cathedral, Igreja de Sao Paulo Apostolo is located in the Santa Teresa section in the city of Rio. 

 

Rio De Janeiro Statistics

The State of Rio de Janeiro lists five urban parishes and four suburban parishes plus two chaplaincies. There are 5 missionary people chapels in the state. In Borofogo, Christ Church (an overeas chapel of the Church of England) shares space with Sao, Lucas.
 

The Sate of Minas Gerais lists one urban parish in Nova Lima and two missionary chapels in Belo Horizonte.
 

The State of Espirito  presently has no IEBA presence. Formerly there was no IEBA congregation in Victoria and plans to establish a mission in the future. 

The diocese's congregations are small when compared to those of Atlanta, which has individaul parishes with memberships larger than the diocese of Rio.

There are fourteen priests in the diocese and two deacons, which always, which includes three female priests and a female deacon. Many of the clergy earn the majority of their income from non-clerical employment. A candidate is ordained to the deaconate on the condition that he/she accepts non-stipendiary status.

 

Opportunities for the Diocese of Atlanta

Friendship: The Rio companion stresses the need to belong. A feeling of isolation from ECUSA and the Anglican Communion is evident in these small and often struggling churches. There is great spirit despite feeling isolated. We can reach out in friendship

• When requested, send professionals to assist with developing parish life and social ministry.
  

• Develop clergy exchanges and support programs, often on a parish-to-parish basis.

• Learn Portuguese (their national language)

• Share our financial resources to foster growth and stablity in the Rio diocese.

Pray for the companion relationship, the most important link between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro and something we all can do. See the diocesan prayer list at www.episcopalatlanta.org