Roman Catholic Diocese of Kongolo

Roman Catholic diocese in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Diocese of Kongolo

Dioecesis Kongoloensis
Location
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
MetropolitanLubumbashi
Statistics
Area44,206 km2 (17,068 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2004)
700,000
135,350 (19.3%)
Information
RiteLatin Rite
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopOscar Ngoy wa Mpanga

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kongolo (Latin: Kongoloën(sis)) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathédrale Sacré-Coeur-de-Marie (dedicated to Our Lady's Heart) in the city of Kongolo.

History

  • Established on 30 June 1911 as Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Katanga, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville
  • Promoted on 18 June 1935 as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Katanga, hence entitled to a titular bishop
  • Renamed 8 March 1951 as Apostolic Vicariate of Kongolo, after its see
  • Lost territory on 23 April 1956 to establish the then Apostolic Vicariate of Kindu
  • Promoted on 10 November 1959 as Diocese of Kongolo, no longer missionary nor exempt
  • Lost territory on 10 March 1966 to the Diocese of Kabinda
  • Gained territory on 8 May 1971 from the Diocese of Baudouinville (now Kalemie–Kirungu)
  • Lost territory on 31 May 1971 to establish the Diocese of Manono

Bishops

(all Roman rite)

Ordinaries

(So far all but one are members of the Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.).)

Apostolic Prefects of Northern Katanga

  • Fr. Emilio Callewaert, C.S.Sp. (1912 – 1922)
  • Fr. Luigi Lempereur, C.S.Sp. (1922 – 1930)
  • Fr. Giorgio Giuseppe Haezaert, C.S.Sp. (19 February 1931 – 18 June 1935 see below)

Apostolic Vicars of Northern Katanga

  • Bishop Giorgio Giuseppe Haezaert, C.S.Sp. (see above 18 June 1935 – 1949), Titular Bishop of Pertusa (18 June 1935 – 29 September 1957)
  • Bishop Gustave Joseph Bouve, C.S.Sp. (31 May 1950 – 8 March 1951 see below), Titular Bishop of Cremna (31 May 1950 – 10 November 1959)

Apostolic Vicars of Kongolo

  • Bishop Gustave Joseph Bouve, C.S.Sp. (see above 8 March 1951 – 10 November 1959 see below)

Bishops of Kongolo

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

  • Vincent de Paul Kwanga Njubu, appointed Bishop of Manono in 2005
  • Fulgence Muteba Mugalu, appointed Bishop of Kilwa-Kasenga in 2005

See also

  • GCatholic.org, with incumbent biography links
  • Catholic Hierarchy