José Bezerra Coutinho
Encyclopedia
José Bezerra Coutinho was a Brazil
ian bishop
of the Roman Catholic Church
. At the age of 98, he was the sixth-oldest bishop in the Catholic Church and oldest Brazil
ian bishop
.
Coutinho was born in Capistrano, in the state of Ceará
, in 1910. He was ordained
a priest on December 3, 1933, then appointed auxiliary bishop
of Sobral
, Ceará, on August 4, 1956. Coutinho was appointed bishop of Estância
, Sergipe
, on January 28, 1961, retiring as bishop of Estância on June 1, 1985.
He was Titular Bishop
of Uthina
from October 28, 1956 to January 28, 1961.
He died in Fortaleza
, Ceará
, on November 7, 2008.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. At the age of 98, he was the sixth-oldest bishop in the Catholic Church and oldest Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
.
Coutinho was born in Capistrano, in the state of Ceará
Ceará
Ceará is one of the 27 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is currently the 8th largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil. The state capital is the city of...
, in 1910. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest on December 3, 1933, then appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Sobral
Sobral, Ceará
Sobral is a city in the state of Ceará, Brazil.Sobral is the second largest municipality of Ceará, after Fortaleza. Its economy is based on agriculture, services and some manufacturing industries...
, Ceará, on August 4, 1956. Coutinho was appointed bishop of Estância
Roman Catholic Diocese of Estância
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Estância is a diocese located in the city of Estância in the Ecclesiastical province of Aracajú in Brazil.-Leadership:* Bishops of Estância ** Bishop Marco Eugênio Galrão Leite de Almeida...
, Sergipe
Sergipe
Sergipe , is the smallest state of the Brazilian Federation, located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of the country. It borders on two other states, Bahia to the south and west and Alagoas to the north, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean...
, on January 28, 1961, retiring as bishop of Estância on June 1, 1985.
He was Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Uthina
Uthina
Uthina was a Roman colony in Tunisia.It was the site of the Oudna airbase. It was also a titular see in the Roman Catholic Church.Uthina is mentioned by Ptolemy , Pliny , and the Peutinger Tables. Pliny and an inscription call it a colony...
from October 28, 1956 to January 28, 1961.
He died in Fortaleza
Fortaleza
Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.5 million , Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of and one of the highest demographic densities in the country...
, Ceará
Ceará
Ceará is one of the 27 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is currently the 8th largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the main touristic destinations in Brazil. The state capital is the city of...
, on November 7, 2008.