Diocese of Gaborone

Dioecesis Gaboronensis

Bishop(s)

Valentine Tsamma Seane, Bishop
Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 7 April 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Botswana
Square Kilometers: 178,301 (68,868 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 218, Plot 162 Queens Rd., Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone: 391.29.58
Fax: 395.69.70

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland
- Erected: 2 April 1959
- Country: Botswana
Diocese of Gaberones
- Latin Name: Gaberonesensis
- Elevated: 5 August 1966
- Country: Botswana

Past and Present Ordinaries

Urban Charles Joseph Murphy, C.P. † (24 Apr 1959 Appointed - 28 Feb 1981 Died)
Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi (30 Nov 1981 Appointed - 5 Feb 2009 Retired)
Valentine Tsamma Seane (5 Feb 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland
2 April 1959	Erected	Diocese of Bulawayo Diocese of Kimberley Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland (erected)
Diocese of Gaberones
5 August 1966	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland	Diocese of Gaberones
Diocese of Gaborone
7 April 1970	Name Changed	Diocese of Gaberones	Diocese of Gaborone
27 June 1998	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gaborone	Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown (erected)
5 June 2007	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Gaborone (from Bloemfontein)

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

Diocese of Gaborone

1970 16,879 611,000 2.8% 2 22 24 703 24 26 ap1971

1978 29,199 793,000 3.7% 3 21 24 1,216 23 53 ap1981

1990 45,826 1,100,000 4.2% 3 23 26 1,762 1 34 51 26 ap1991

1999 59,325 700,000 8.5% 4 21 25 2,373 1 23 27 17 ap2000

2000 60,134 703,000 8.6% 4 20 24 2,505 1 22 32 17 ap2001

2001 60,893 719,000 8.5% 6 21 27 2,255 1 23 46 18 ap2002

2002 61,675 875,900 7.0% 10 20 30 2,055 1 23 50 18 ap2003

2003 62,497 957,100 6.5% 7 23 30 2,083 1 25 39 17 ap2004

2004 63,257 904,900 7.0% 6 25 31 2,040 1 27 44 18 ap2005

2006 63,926 1,003,645 6.4% 11 20 31 2,062 5 22 53 20 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Gaborone
1970	16,879	611,000	2.8%	2	22	24	703		24	26		ap1971
1978	29,199	793,000	3.7%	3	21	24	1,216		23	53		ap1981
1990	45,826	1,100,000	4.2%	3	23	26	1,762	1	34	51	26	ap1991
1999	59,325	700,000	8.5%	4	21	25	2,373	1	23	27	17	ap2000
2000	60,134	703,000	8.6%	4	20	24	2,505	1	22	32	17	ap2001
2001	60,893	719,000	8.5%	6	21	27	2,255	1	23	46	18	ap2002
2002	61,675	875,900	7.0%	10	20	30	2,055	1	23	50	18	ap2003
2003	62,497	957,100	6.5%	7	23	30	2,083	1	25	39	17	ap2004
2004	63,257	904,900	7.0%	6	25	31	2,040	1	27	44	18	ap2005
2006	63,926	1,003,645	6.4%	11	20	31	2,062	5	22	53	20	ap2007

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Valentine Tsamma Seane (Priest: 23 Jan 2006; Bishop: 5 Feb 2009 - )
Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi (Priest: 22 Jul 1963; Bishop: 30 Nov 1981 to 5 Feb 2009)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Urban Charles Joseph Murphy, C.P. † (Prefect: 24 Apr 1959; Bishop: 5 Aug 1966 to 28 Feb 1981)