Goroka (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Walenty Gryk, S.V.D., Bishop
Francesco Sarego, S.V.D., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mount Hagen
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 11,157 (4,309 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 109, Goroka, E.H.P. 441, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 532-1798
Fax: 532-1405

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka
- Latin Name: Gorokanus
- Erected: 18 June 1959
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bernard Schilling, S.V.D. † (19 Dec 1959 Appointed - 15 Nov 1966 Resigned)
John Edward Cohill, S.V.D. † (15 Nov 1966 Appointed - 30 Aug 1980 Resigned)
Raymond Rodly Caesar, S.V.D. † (30 Aug 1980 Succeeded - 18 Jun 1987 Died)
Michael Marai † (25 Oct 1988 Appointed - 15 Nov 1994 Resigned)
Francesco Sarego, S.V.D. (6 Dec 1995 Appointed - 9 Jun 2016 Retired)
Dariusz Piotr Kałuża, M.S.F. (9 Jun 2016 Appointed - 12 Sep 2020 Appointed, Bishop of Bougainville)
Walenty Gryk, S.V.D. (14 Feb 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka
18 June 1959	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen (Eastern Highlands)	Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka (erected)
Diocese of Goroka
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka	Diocese of Goroka
18 March 1982	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Goroka (from Madang)
8 June 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Goroka (Simbu)	Diocese of Kundiawa (erected)

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 Goroka

1970 76,327 410,000 18.6% 2 27 29 2,631 1 48 19 ap1971

1980 86,126 350,450 24.6% 1 19 20 4,306 1 30 14 15 ap1981

1990 18,000 300,000 6.0% 2 14 16 1,125 26 30 9 ap1991

1999 13,647 310,000 4.4% 12 12 1,137 22 21 8 ap2000

2000 13,627 315,000 4.3% 1 11 12 1,135 21 20 9 ap2001

2001 13,113 385,000 3.4% 2 12 14 936 22 22 9 ap2002

2002 14,000 385,000 3.6% 3 12 15 933 21 21 8 ap2003

2003 15,932 390,000 4.1% 2 10 12 1,327 17 19 8 ap2004

2004 13,500 429,480 3.1% 2 8 10 1,350 14 21 9 ap2005

2006 16,393 440,000 3.7% 2 10 12 1,366 15 24 9 ap2007

2013 15,511 530,000 2.9% 2 9 11 1,410 13 20 10 ap2014

2016 16,250 600,000 2.7% 2 8 10 1,625 11 19 9 ap2017

2019 14,898 597,560 2.5% 4 11 15 993 18 14 9 ap2020

2021 15,199 650,000 2.3% 3 10 13 1,169 14 14 9 ap2022

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 Goroka
1970	76,327	410,000	18.6%	2	27	29	2,631	1	48	19		ap1971
1980	86,126	350,450	24.6%	1	19	20	4,306	1	30	14	15	ap1981
1990	18,000	300,000	6.0%	2	14	16	1,125		26	30	9	ap1991
1999	13,647	310,000	4.4%		12	12	1,137		22	21	8	ap2000
2000	13,627	315,000	4.3%	1	11	12	1,135		21	20	9	ap2001
2001	13,113	385,000	3.4%	2	12	14	936		22	22	9	ap2002
2002	14,000	385,000	3.6%	3	12	15	933		21	21	8	ap2003
2003	15,932	390,000	4.1%	2	10	12	1,327		17	19	8	ap2004
2004	13,500	429,480	3.1%	2	8	10	1,350		14	21	9	ap2005
2006	16,393	440,000	3.7%	2	10	12	1,366		15	24	9	ap2007
2013	15,511	530,000	2.9%	2	9	11	1,410		13	20	10	ap2014
2016	16,250	600,000	2.7%	2	8	10	1,625		11	19	9	ap2017
2019	14,898	597,560	2.5%	4	11	15	993		18	14	9	ap2020
2021	15,199	650,000	2.3%	3	10	13	1,169		14	14	9	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Raymond Rodly Caesar, S.V.D. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 13 Jul 1978; Bishop: 30 Aug 1980 to 18 Jun 1987)
John Edward Cohill, S.V.D. † (Bishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 30 Aug 1980)
Michael Marai † (Bishop: 25 Oct 1988 to 15 Nov 1994)
Bernard Schilling, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1959 to 15 Nov 1966)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 890, to Page 892
Diocese of Goroka
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 762, and Page 763

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Diocese of Goroka

Dioecesis Gorokana