Diocese of Kerema

Dioecesis Keremana

Bishop(s)

Pedro Centeno Baquero, S.D.B., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 16 January 1971
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Port Moresby
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 34,472 (13,314 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Catholic Church, P.O. Box 90, Kerema 311, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 65.40.021

Past and Present Ordinaries

Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. † (24 May 1976 Appointed - 6 Dec 1988 Resigned)
Paul John Marx, M.S.C. † (6 Dec 1988 Succeeded - 13 Mar 2010 Retired)
Patrick Taval, M.S.C. † (13 Mar 2010 Succeeded - 29 Apr 2013 Died)
Pedro Centeno Baquero, S.D.B. (20 Jan 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
16 January 1971	Erected	Diocese of Bereina Diocese of Mendi	Diocese of Kerema (erected) (Gulf)

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

1980 6,848 73,600 9.3% 5 5 10 684 10 13 14 ap1981

1990 11,017 75,000 14.7% 2 9 11 1,001 2 22 16 10 ap1991

1999 15,661 76,000 20.6% 5 9 14 1,118 13 17 10 ap2000

2000 17,032 76,000 22.4% 5 6 11 1,548 10 17 10 ap2001

2001 18,002 76,000 23.7% 5 8 13 1,384 11 17 10 ap2002

2002 20,500 105,000 19.5% 5 7 12 1,708 12 19 10 ap2003

2003 21,555 106,800 20.2% 5 7 12 1,796 9 16 10 ap2004

2004 22,130 106,800 20.7% 7 6 13 1,702 9 15 11 ap2005

2006 22,794 106,800 21.3% 5 7 12 1,899 11 16 11 ap2007

2011 25,200 128,300 19.6% 7 5 12 2,100 12 14 10 ap2014

2016 26,700 163,000 16.4% 6 5 11 2,427 10 14 11 ap2017

2019 22,000 161,300 13.6% 6 8 14 1,571 14 19 11 ap2020

2021 22,800 159,000 14.3% 7 6 13 1,753 9 17 11 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	6,848	73,600	9.3%	5	5	10	684		10	13	14	ap1981
1990	11,017	75,000	14.7%	2	9	11	1,001	2	22	16	10	ap1991
1999	15,661	76,000	20.6%	5	9	14	1,118		13	17	10	ap2000
2000	17,032	76,000	22.4%	5	6	11	1,548		10	17	10	ap2001
2001	18,002	76,000	23.7%	5	8	13	1,384		11	17	10	ap2002
2002	20,500	105,000	19.5%	5	7	12	1,708		12	19	10	ap2003
2003	21,555	106,800	20.2%	5	7	12	1,796		9	16	10	ap2004
2004	22,130	106,800	20.7%	7	6	13	1,702		9	15	11	ap2005
2006	22,794	106,800	21.3%	5	7	12	1,899		11	16	11	ap2007
2011	25,200	128,300	19.6%	7	5	12	2,100		12	14	10	ap2014
2016	26,700	163,000	16.4%	6	5	11	2,427		10	14	11	ap2017
2019	22,000	161,300	13.6%	6	8	14	1,571		14	19	11	ap2020
2021	22,800	159,000	14.3%	7	6	13	1,753		9	17	11	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Pedro Centeno Baquero, S.D.B. (Bishop: 20 Jan 2017 - )
Rochus Josef Tatamai, M.S.C. (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Jul 2005 to 29 Nov 2007)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Virgil Patrick Copas, M.S.C. † (Archbishop (Personal Title): 24 May 1976 to 6 Dec 1988)
Paul John Marx, M.S.C. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 3 May 1985; Bishop: 6 Dec 1988 to 13 Mar 2010)
Patrick Taval, M.S.C. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 6 Dec 2007; Bishop: 13 Mar 2010 to 29 Apr 2013)

Source(s)

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 63, Page 728, and Page 729

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