Gweru (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Rudolf Nyandoro, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 25 June 1982
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bulawayo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Zimbabwe
Square Kilometers: 29,158 (11,262 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://catholicdioceseofgweru.co.zw
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 622, 77 Kopje Rd. Gweru, Zimbabwe
Telephone: (054)2223.565
Fax: 2223.381

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria
- Latin Name: Arcis Victoriae
- Erected: 14 November 1946
- Country: Zimbabwe
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
- Latin Name: Arcis Victoriae
- Elevated: 24 June 1950
- Vicariate
- Country: Zimbabwe
Diocese of Gwelo
- Latin Name: Guelensis
- Elevated: 1 January 1955
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Salisbury
- Country: Zimbabwe

Past and Present Ordinaries

Aloysius Haene, S.M.B. † (28 Mar 1947 Appointed - 3 Feb 1977 Resigned)
Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya † (3 Feb 1977 Appointed - 14 Jan 1987 Died)
Francis Xavier Mugadzi † (25 Oct 1988 Appointed - 6 Feb 2004 Died)
Martin Munyanyi † (11 May 2006 Appointed - 28 Apr 2012 Resigned)
Xavier Johnsai Munyongani † (15 Jun 2013 Appointed - 15 Oct 2017 Died)
Rudolf Nyandoro (11 Sep 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria
14 November 1946	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
24 June 1950	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
2 February 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria (Melsetter and Chipinga) Vicariate Apostolic of Salisbury (Inyange, Matoni, and Umtali)	Prefecture Apostolic of Umtali (erected)
2 February 1953	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Salisbury (Gwelo and Selukwe)	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
Diocese of Gwelo
1 January 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria	Diocese of Gwelo
Diocese of Gweru
25 June 1982	Name Changed	Diocese of Gwelo	Diocese of Gweru
10 June 1994	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Gweru (from Harare)
9 February 1999	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gweru (Bikita, Chiredzi, Chivi, Gutu, Masvingo, Mwenezi, and Ndanga along with part of Gwanda and Beitbridge)	Diocese of Masvingo (erected)

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

Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria

1950 27,937 600,000 4.7% 30 30 931 42 33 ap1951

Diocese of Gwelo

1970 162,804 1,287,634 12.6% 12 78 90 1,808 137 197 14 ap1971

1980 210,000 1,809,000 11.6% 13 67 80 2,625 103 183 ap1981

Diocese of Gweru

1990 265,215 2,265,000 11.7% 25 49 74 3,583 83 223 43 ap1991

1999 196,000 1,525,000 12.9% 21 14 35 5,600 45 136 17 ap2000

2000 134,000 1,521,000 8.8% 23 16 39 3,435 43 127 49 ap2001

2001 187,720 2,000,000 9.4% 24 18 42 4,469 68 122 25 ap2002

2002 191,174 2,112,933 9.0% 24 16 40 4,779 56 152 25 ap2003

2003 195,087 2,220,685 8.8% 26 14 40 4,877 56 188 25 ap2004

2004 196,999 2,109,650 9.3% 25 14 39 5,051 65 176 27 ap2005

2006 198,000 2,124,990 9.3% 29 14 43 4,604 58 153 30 ap2007

2013 421,000 2,281,000 18.5% 46 7 53 7,943 41 174 32 ap2014

2016 443,500 2,428,000 18.3% 48 7 55 8,063 44 200 33 ap2017

2019 440,130 2,586,540 17.0% 48 6 54 8,150 40 173 36 ap2020

2021 459,450 2,696,600 17.0% 55 6 61 7,531 50 287 38 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
1950	27,937	600,000	4.7%	30		30	931		42	33	ap1951
Diocese of Gwelo
1970	162,804	1,287,634	12.6%	12	78	90	1,808	137	197	14	ap1971
1980	210,000	1,809,000	11.6%	13	67	80	2,625	103	183		ap1981
Diocese of Gweru
1990	265,215	2,265,000	11.7%	25	49	74	3,583	83	223	43	ap1991
1999	196,000	1,525,000	12.9%	21	14	35	5,600	45	136	17	ap2000
2000	134,000	1,521,000	8.8%	23	16	39	3,435	43	127	49	ap2001
2001	187,720	2,000,000	9.4%	24	18	42	4,469	68	122	25	ap2002
2002	191,174	2,112,933	9.0%	24	16	40	4,779	56	152	25	ap2003
2003	195,087	2,220,685	8.8%	26	14	40	4,877	56	188	25	ap2004
2004	196,999	2,109,650	9.3%	25	14	39	5,051	65	176	27	ap2005
2006	198,000	2,124,990	9.3%	29	14	43	4,604	58	153	30	ap2007
2013	421,000	2,281,000	18.5%	46	7	53	7,943	41	174	32	ap2014
2016	443,500	2,428,000	18.3%	48	7	55	8,063	44	200	33	ap2017
2019	440,130	2,586,540	17.0%	48	6	54	8,150	40	173	36	ap2020
2021	459,450	2,696,600	17.0%	55	6	61	7,531	50	287	38	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya † (Priest: 28 Aug 1966; Bishop: 3 Feb 1977 to 14 Jan 1987)
Aloysius Haene, S.M.B. † (Prefect: 28 Mar 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jun 1950; Bishop: 1 Jan 1955 to 3 Feb 1977)
Francis Xavier Mugadzi † (Priest: 12 Dec 1964; Bishop: 25 Oct 1988 to 6 Feb 2004)
Martin Munyanyi † (Priest: 3 Sep 1983; Bishop: 11 May 2006 to 28 Apr 2012)
Xavier Johnsai Munyongani † (Priest: 20 Aug 1977 to 9 Feb 1999; Bishop: 15 Jun 2013 to 15 Oct 2017)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 97, and Page 98
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 187, and Page 188
Diocese of Gwelo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 369, to Page 372
Diocese of Gweru
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 74, Page 952
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 785, and Page 786

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Diocese of Gweru

Dioecesis Gueruensis