Diocese of Hwange

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Bishop(s) José Alberto Serrano Antón, I.E.M.E., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 8 April 1988 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bulawayo Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Zimbabwe Square Kilometers: 43,427 (16,773 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 25, Old Bulawayo Rd., Hwange, Zimbabwe Telephone: (081)22325 Fax: 22260

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Wankie
  • Latin Name: Vankiensis
  • Erected: 29 June 1953
  • Country: Zimbabwe

• Diocese of Wankie
  • Latin Name: Vankiensis
  • Elevated: 1 March 1963
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Salisbury
  • Country: Zimbabwe

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Francesco Font Garcia, I.E.M.E. † ( 1953 Appointed - 1956 Died)
• Dominic Ros Arraiza, I.E.M.E. † (19 Oct 1956 Appointed - 1963 Died)
• Ignacio Prieto Vega, I.E.M.E. † (1 Mar 1963 Appointed - 9 Feb 1999 Retired)
• Robert Christopher Ndlovu (9 Feb 1999 Appointed - 10 Jun 2004 Appointed, Archbishop of Harare)
• José Alberto Serrano Antón, I.E.M.E. (5 Dec 2006 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Wankie
29 June 1953	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Bulawayo Vicariate Apostolic of Salisbury	Prefecture Apostolic of Wankie (erected)
Diocese of Wankie
1 March 1963	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Wankie	Diocese of Wankie
Diocese of Hwange
8 April 1988	Name Changed	Diocese of Wankie	Diocese of Hwange
17 June 1991	Territory Lost	Diocese of Hwange	Diocese of Gokwe (erected)

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Statistics

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 Wankie
1970	19,400	290,000	6.7%		36	36	538		36	49	16	ap1971
1980	37,588	494,000	7.6%	2	24	26	1,445		30	38	17	ap1981
Diocese of Hwange
1990	60,674	878,091	6.9%	12	24	36	1,685		32	64	24	ap1991
1999	33,114	313,527	10.6%	11	16	27	1,226		23	72	21	ap2000
2000	33,784	321,365	10.5%	12	15	27	1,251		21	67	21	ap2001
2001	35,577	329,399	10.8%	13	16	29	1,226		22	60	22	ap2002
2002	37,048	317,300	11.7%	11	19	30	1,234		23	68	24	ap2003
2003	37,770	323,780	11.7%	11	17	28	1,348		22	64	24	ap2004
2004	38,576	329,937	11.7%	13	16	29	1,330		21	60	24	ap2005
2006	41,118	343,265	12.0%	17	14	31	1,326		17	81	24	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Robert Christopher Ndlovu (Priest: 28 Aug 1983; Bishop: 9 Feb 1999 to 10 Jun 2004)
• José Alberto Serrano Antón, I.E.M.E. (Bishop: 5 Dec 2006 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Francesco Font Garcia, I.E.M.E. † (Prefect: 1953 to 1956)
• Ignacio Prieto Vega, I.E.M.E. † (Bishop: 1 Mar 1963 to 9 Feb 1999)
• Dominic Ros Arraiza, I.E.M.E. † (Prefect: 19 Oct 1956 to 1963)