Chipata (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu, Bishop
Gabriel Msipu Phiri, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 15 April 1968
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Lusaka
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Zambia
Square Kilometers: 69,106 (26,692 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseofchipata.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 510103, Chipata, Zambia
Telephone: (216)221.375
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson
- Latin Name: de Fort Jameson
- Erected: 1 July 1937
- Country: Zambia
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson
- Latin Name: de Fort Jameson
- Elevated: 7 May 1953
- Vicariate
- Country: Zambia
Diocese of Fort Jameson
- Latin Name: de Fort Jameson
- Elevated: 25 April 1959
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Lusaka
- Country: Zambia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Fernand Martin, M. Afr. † (17 Dec 1937 Appointed - 1946 Resigned)
Firmin Courtemanche, M. Afr. † (7 Mar 1947 Appointed - 11 Nov 1970 Resigned)
Medardo Joseph Mazombwe † (11 Nov 1970 Appointed - 30 Nov 1996 Appointed, Archbishop of Lusaka)
George Cosmas Zumaire Lungu (23 Dec 2002 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson
1 July 1937	Erected	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Loangwa (Lundazi) Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa (Petauke and Fort Jameson)	Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson
7 May 1953	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson
Diocese of Fort Jameson
25 April 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson	Diocese of Fort Jameson
Diocese of Chipata
15 April 1968	Name Changed	Diocese of Fort Jameson	Diocese of Chipata

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson

1950 31,586 225,560 14.0% 3 25 28 1,128 10 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson

Diocese of Fort Jameson

Diocese of Chipata

1970 88,922 509,000 17.5% 9 40 49 1,814 51 42 ap1971

1980 120,886 609,000 19.8% 9 44 53 2,280 54 50 17 ap1981

1990 176,353 669,686 26.3% 13 38 51 3,457 48 109 19 ap1991

1999 253,900 1,273,752 19.9% 25 33 58 4,377 44 134 21 ap2000

2000 263,874 1,273,752 20.7% 27 22 49 5,385 33 135 21 ap2001

2001 274,007 1,480,967 18.5% 25 21 46 5,956 38 141 21 ap2002

2002 281,265 1,300,773 21.6% 23 24 47 5,984 35 134 22 ap2003

2003 285,760 1,300,973 22.0% 23 21 44 6,494 32 142 22 ap2004

2004 285,760 1,300,973 22.0% 25 22 47 6,080 38 145 23 ap2005

2006 315,130 1,381,000 22.8% 29 22 51 6,179 35 149 23 ap2007

2013 398,946 1,810,000 22.0% 45 24 69 5,781 44 46 24 ap2014

2016 430,800 1,954,000 22.0% 51 29 80 5,385 45 153 31 ap2017

2019 470,000 2,132,500 22.0% 52 31 83 5,662 59 137 36 ap2020

2021 496,660 2,254,000 22.0% 65 31 96 5,173 74 137 36 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson
1950	31,586	225,560	14.0%	3	25	28	1,128		10		ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson
Diocese of Fort Jameson
Diocese of Chipata
1970	88,922	509,000	17.5%	9	40	49	1,814	51	42		ap1971
1980	120,886	609,000	19.8%	9	44	53	2,280	54	50	17	ap1981
1990	176,353	669,686	26.3%	13	38	51	3,457	48	109	19	ap1991
1999	253,900	1,273,752	19.9%	25	33	58	4,377	44	134	21	ap2000
2000	263,874	1,273,752	20.7%	27	22	49	5,385	33	135	21	ap2001
2001	274,007	1,480,967	18.5%	25	21	46	5,956	38	141	21	ap2002
2002	281,265	1,300,773	21.6%	23	24	47	5,984	35	134	22	ap2003
2003	285,760	1,300,973	22.0%	23	21	44	6,494	32	142	22	ap2004
2004	285,760	1,300,973	22.0%	25	22	47	6,080	38	145	23	ap2005
2006	315,130	1,381,000	22.8%	29	22	51	6,179	35	149	23	ap2007
2013	398,946	1,810,000	22.0%	45	24	69	5,781	44	46	24	ap2014
2016	430,800	1,954,000	22.0%	51	29	80	5,385	45	153	31	ap2017
2019	470,000	2,132,500	22.0%	52	31	83	5,662	59	137	36	ap2020
2021	496,660	2,254,000	22.0%	65	31	96	5,173	74	137	36	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Firmin Courtemanche, M. Afr. † (Prefect: 7 Mar 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 7 May 1953; Bishop: 25 Apr 1959 to 11 Nov 1970)
Fernand Martin, M. Afr. † (Prefect: 17 Dec 1937 to 1946)
Medardo Joseph Mazombwe † (Bishop: 11 Nov 1970 to 30 Nov 1996)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Jameson
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 30, Page 54, and Page 55
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Jameson
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 771, and Page 772
Diocese of Fort Jameson
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 793, to Page 796
Diocese of Chipata
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 60, Page 230, and Page 231

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Diocese of Chipata

Dioecesis Chipatensis