Idiofa (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

José Moko Ekanga, P.S.S., Bishop
Louis Mbwôl-Mpasi, O.M.I., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 20 June 1960
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kinshasa
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 40,000 (15,450 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://diocese-idiofa.org
Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 1, Idiofa; B.P. 8251, Kinshasa 1, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (081)630.00.31

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu
- Latin Name: Ipamuensis
- Erected: 13 April 1937
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu
- Latin Name: Ipamuensis
- Elevated: 12 February 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Diocese of Ipamu
- Latin Name: Ipamuensis
- Elevated: 10 November 1959
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Léopoldville
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alphonse Bossart, O.M.I. † (11 Jun 1937 Appointed - May 1957 Resigned)
René Toussaint, O.M.I. † (16 Jan 1958 Appointed - 21 May 1970 Resigned)
Eugène Biletsi Onim † (21 May 1970 Appointed - 4 Nov 1994 Resigned)
Louis Mbwôl-Mpasi, O.M.I. (20 May 1997 Appointed - 31 May 2006 Retired)
José Moko Ekanga, P.S.S. (26 May 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu
13 April 1937	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Basongo-Brabant) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Niadi and Kamtseha-Loange)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu (erected)
25 April 1939	Territory Added		Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu (Boundaries Adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundaries Adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu
12 February 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu	Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu
11 July 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundaries adjusted)
Diocese of Ipamu
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu	Diocese of Ipamu
Diocese of Idiofa
20 June 1960	Name Changed	Diocese of Ipamu	Diocese of Idiofa

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 Ipamu

1950 61,765 350,000 17.6% 2 54 56 1,102 51 25 13 ap1951

Diocese of Ipamu

Diocese of Idiofa

1969 186,067 425,000 43.8% 17 2 19 9,793 11 54 20 ap1971

1980 382,000 794,000 48.1% 25 23 48 7,958 51 61 29 ap1981

1990 443,395 839,326 52.8% 69 12 81 5,474 12 85 90 36 ap1991

1999 271,623 637,575 42.6% 87 19 106 2,562 76 102 49 ap2000

2000 283,329 651,614 43.5% 94 25 119 2,380 84 98 54 ap2001

2001 294,275 737,638 39.9% 81 26 107 2,750 59 107 43 ap2002

2002 245,359 711,621 34.5% 79 21 100 2,453 5 43 107 40 ap2003

2003 426,075 949,175 44.9% 84 22 106 4,019 39 108 40 ap2004

2004 600,000 1,000,000 60.0% 79 20 99 6,060 36 117 42 ap2005

2006 1,100,000 2,200,000 50.0% 87 19 106 10,377 31 117 42 ap2007

2013 1,334,000 2,691,000 49.6% 91 16 107 12,467 36 101 43 ap2014

2016 1,552,250 2,750,500 56.4% 100 20 120 12,935 40 109 43 ap2017

2019 1,730,660 3,023,000 57.2% 100 17 117 14,791 35 99 43 ap2020

2021 1,951,780 3,903,560 50.0% 102 23 125 15,614 39 93 43 ap2022

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 Ipamu
1950	61,765	350,000	17.6%	2	54	56	1,102		51	25	13	ap1951
Diocese of Ipamu
Diocese of Idiofa
1969	186,067	425,000	43.8%	17	2	19	9,793		11	54	20	ap1971
1980	382,000	794,000	48.1%	25	23	48	7,958		51	61	29	ap1981
1990	443,395	839,326	52.8%	69	12	81	5,474	12	85	90	36	ap1991
1999	271,623	637,575	42.6%	87	19	106	2,562		76	102	49	ap2000
2000	283,329	651,614	43.5%	94	25	119	2,380		84	98	54	ap2001
2001	294,275	737,638	39.9%	81	26	107	2,750		59	107	43	ap2002
2002	245,359	711,621	34.5%	79	21	100	2,453	5	43	107	40	ap2003
2003	426,075	949,175	44.9%	84	22	106	4,019		39	108	40	ap2004
2004	600,000	1,000,000	60.0%	79	20	99	6,060		36	117	42	ap2005
2006	1,100,000	2,200,000	50.0%	87	19	106	10,377		31	117	42	ap2007
2013	1,334,000	2,691,000	49.6%	91	16	107	12,467		36	101	43	ap2014
2016	1,552,250	2,750,500	56.4%	100	20	120	12,935		40	109	43	ap2017
2019	1,730,660	3,023,000	57.2%	100	17	117	14,791		35	99	43	ap2020
2021	1,951,780	3,903,560	50.0%	102	23	125	15,614		39	93	43	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Eugène Biletsi Onim † (Priest: 29 Mar 1959; Bishop: 21 May 1970 to 4 Nov 1994)
Alphonse Bossart, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 11 Jun 1937; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1948 to May 1957)
Louis Nzala Kianza † (Apostolic Administrator: 31 May 2006 to 15 Aug 2009)
René Toussaint, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 16 Jan 1958; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 21 May 1970)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 29, Page 334, and Page 335
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 399, and Page 400
Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 359, and Page 360
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 893, and Page 894
Diocese of Ipamu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377

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Diocese of Idiofa

Dioecesis Idiofaensis