Kimberley (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange
- Erected: 4 June 1886
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
- Latin Name: Kimberliensis in Africa Meridionali
- Name Changed: 1918
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Anthony Gaughren, O.M.I. † (8 Jun 1886 Appointed - 15 Jan 1901 Died)
Matthew Gaughren, O.M.I. † (23 Jan 1902 Appointed - 1 Jun 1914 Died)
Herman Joseph Meysing, O.M.I. † (19 Dec 1929 Appointed - 11 Jan 1951 Appointed, Archbishop of Bloemfontein)
John Bökenföhr (Boekenfoehr), O.M.I. † (24 Mar 1953 Appointed - 1 Jul 1974 Resigned)
Erwin Hecht, O.M.I. † (1 Jul 1974 Appointed - 15 Dec 2009 Retired)
Abel Doctor Gabuza † (23 Dec 2010 Appointed - 9 Dec 2018 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Durban)
Duncan Theodore Tsoke (3 Mar 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange
4 June 1886	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale} Vicariate Apostolic of Natal	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange (erected)
8 May 1894	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange	Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland (erected)
7 July 1909	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale} (Kenhardt, Van Rhyns Dorp, and Fraserburg) Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange (Gordonia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
1918	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
26 November 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale} (Kroonstad, Vredefort, Heilbron, Lindley, Senekal, Bethlehem, Ficksburg, Harrismith, Vrede, and half of the civil districts of Hoopstad, Winburg, and Ladybrand)	Prefecture Apostolic of Kroonstad (erected)
30 March 1930	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Marico and Rustemburg)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
9 April 1948	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale} (Rustemburg and Marico) Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Pretoria and Erits)	Vicariate Apostolic of Pretoria (erected)
11 January 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Aliwal (Fauresmith, Philippolis, Smithfield, Edenburg, Trompsburg, and Zastron) Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale} (Bloemfontein, Thabunch, Wetsdorp, Jacobsdal, Boshof, Wepener, Redderburg, and parts of Ladybrand and Hoopstad)	Archdiocese of Bloemfontein (erected)
Diocese of Kimberley
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}	Diocese of Kimberley
2 April 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bulawayo Diocese of Kimberley Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland (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 Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}

1950 32,727 691,649 4.7% 39 39 839 78 152 4 ap1951

Diocese of Kimberley

1969 51,803 1 37 38 1,363 73 89 3 ap1971

1980 66,835 565,000 11.8% 3 25 28 2,386 41 75 4 ap1981

1990 93,948 707,000 13.3% 3 21 24 3,914 38 42 4 ap1991

1999 113,270 1,502,230 7.5% 18 14 32 3,539 19 34 8 ap2000

2000 117,355 1,603,760 7.3% 17 15 32 3,667 20 27 15 ap2001

2001 118,730 1,607,350 7.4% 14 14 28 4,240 19 28 16 ap2002

2002 119,690 1,690,480 7.1% 14 12 26 4,603 16 21 16 ap2003

2003 119,780 1,730,680 6.9% 13 15 28 4,277 19 20 16 ap2004

2004 117,335 1,740,000 6.7% 16 16 32 3,666 20 26 17 ap2005

2006 117,260 1,780,000 6.6% 19 18 37 3,169 22 25 17 ap2007

2013 180,965 2,047,000 8.8% 24 11 35 5,170 3 13 27 18 ap2014

2016 189,600 2,136,000 8.9% 32 3 35 5,417 3 3 11 23 ap2017

2019 198,700 2,241,500 8.9% 25 3 28 7,096 3 9 13 23 ap2020

2021 204,390 2,305,900 8.9% 30 5 35 5,839 3 5 20 23 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 Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
1950	32,727	691,649	4.7%		39	39	839		78	152	4	ap1951
Diocese of Kimberley
1969	51,803			1	37	38	1,363		73	89	3	ap1971
1980	66,835	565,000	11.8%	3	25	28	2,386		41	75	4	ap1981
1990	93,948	707,000	13.3%	3	21	24	3,914		38	42	4	ap1991
1999	113,270	1,502,230	7.5%	18	14	32	3,539		19	34	8	ap2000
2000	117,355	1,603,760	7.3%	17	15	32	3,667		20	27	15	ap2001
2001	118,730	1,607,350	7.4%	14	14	28	4,240		19	28	16	ap2002
2002	119,690	1,690,480	7.1%	14	12	26	4,603		16	21	16	ap2003
2003	119,780	1,730,680	6.9%	13	15	28	4,277		19	20	16	ap2004
2004	117,335	1,740,000	6.7%	16	16	32	3,666		20	26	17	ap2005
2006	117,260	1,780,000	6.6%	19	18	37	3,169		22	25	17	ap2007
2013	180,965	2,047,000	8.8%	24	11	35	5,170	3	13	27	18	ap2014
2016	189,600	2,136,000	8.9%	32	3	35	5,417	3	3	11	23	ap2017
2019	198,700	2,241,500	8.9%	25	3	28	7,096	3	9	13	23	ap2020
2021	204,390	2,305,900	8.9%	30	5	35	5,839	3	5	20	23	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

John Bökenföhr (Boekenfoehr), O.M.I. † (Bishop: 24 Mar 1953 to 1 Jul 1974)
Abel Doctor Gabuza † (Bishop: 23 Dec 2010 to 9 Dec 2018)
Anthony Gaughren, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jun 1886 to 15 Jan 1901)
Matthew Gaughren, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Jan 1902 to 1 Jun 1914)
Erwin Hecht, O.M.I. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 3 Feb 1972; Bishop: 1 Jul 1974 to 15 Dec 2009)
Herman Joseph Meysing, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Dec 1929 to 11 Jan 1951)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 485
Diocese of Kimberley
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

About Catholic-Hierarchy

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Diocese of Kimberley

Dioecesis Kimberleyensis

Bishop(s)

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)