Diocese of Kenema

Dioecesis Kenemaensis

Bishop(s)

Henry Aruna, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 11 November 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Freetown
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Sierra Leone
Square Kilometers: 15,710 (6,067 Square Miles)
Description: Eastern Province, includes the civil districts of Kenema, Kailahun, and Kono
Official Web Site: https://kenemadiocese.org/
Mailing Address: Catholic Secretariat, Pastoral Center, Dama Road, P.O. Box 200, Kenema, Sierra Leone
Telephone: (076)625.266; (088)140.828

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph Henry Ganda † (11 Nov 1970 Appointed - 4 Sep 1980 Appointed, Archbishop of Freetown and Bo)
John Christopher O’Riordan, C.S.Sp. † (4 Jun 1984 Appointed - 26 Apr 2002 Retired)
Patrick Daniel Koroma † (26 Apr 2002 Appointed - 14 Dec 2018 Died)
Henry Aruna (26 Jan 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 November 1970	Erected	Diocese of Freetown and Bo (Eastern Province)	Diocese of Kenema (erected)

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

1980 8,727 727,000 1.2% 5 22 27 323 22 26 ap1981

1990 16,132 1,025,000 1.6% 5 17 22 733 21 31 ap1991

1997 16,867 1,000,000 1.7% 13 4 17 992 4 ap2000

2000 15,204 600,000 2.5% 9 3 12 1,267 3 ap2001

2001 15,402 800,000 1.9% 8 4 12 1,283 3 13 ap2002

2002 19,143 900,000 2.1% 10 4 14 1,367 9 ap2003

2003 21,049 1,223,608 1.7% 14 4 18 1,169 8 15 ap2004

2004 21,375 1,248,080 1.7% 14 5 19 1,125 11 1 15 ap2005

2006 72,857 1,258,784 5.8% 15 5 20 3,642 11 2 15 ap2007

2013 85,923 1,448,486 5.9% 15 3 18 4,773 11 21 15 ap2014

2016 89,900 1,515,000 5.9% 18 3 21 4,280 11 21 15 ap2017

2019 96,000 1,622,300 5.9% 17 3 20 4,800 7 22 16 ap2020

2021 87,481 1,679,700 5.2% 20 8 28 3,124 11 22 19 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1980	8,727	727,000	1.2%	5	22	27	323		22	26		ap1981
1990	16,132	1,025,000	1.6%	5	17	22	733		21	31		ap1991
1997	16,867	1,000,000	1.7%	13	4	17	992		4			ap2000
2000	15,204	600,000	2.5%	9	3	12	1,267		3			ap2001
2001	15,402	800,000	1.9%	8	4	12	1,283	3	13			ap2002
2002	19,143	900,000	2.1%	10	4	14	1,367		9			ap2003
2003	21,049	1,223,608	1.7%	14	4	18	1,169		8		15	ap2004
2004	21,375	1,248,080	1.7%	14	5	19	1,125		11	1	15	ap2005
2006	72,857	1,258,784	5.8%	15	5	20	3,642		11	2	15	ap2007
2013	85,923	1,448,486	5.9%	15	3	18	4,773		11	21	15	ap2014
2016	89,900	1,515,000	5.9%	18	3	21	4,280		11	21	15	ap2017
2019	96,000	1,622,300	5.9%	17	3	20	4,800		7	22	16	ap2020
2021	87,481	1,679,700	5.2%	20	8	28	3,124		11	22	19	ap2022