Keetmanshoop (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Willem Christiaans, O.S.F.S., Bishop
Philipp Pöllitzer, O.M.I., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 14 March 1994
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Windhoek
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Namibia
Square Kilometers: 264,110 (102,012 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.pck.iway.na/
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 88, 88 Cathedral Street, Keetmanshoop 9000, Namibia
Telephone: (063)222.007
Fax: 222.692

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
- Latin Name: Magni Namaqueland
- Erected: 7 July 1909
- Country: Namibia
Vicariate Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
- Latin Name: Magni Namaqueland
- Elevated: 14 July 1930
- Vicariate
- Country: Namibia
Vicariate Apostolic of Keetmanshoop
- Latin Name: Keetmanshoopensis
- Name Changed: 13 January 1949
- Vicariate
- Country: Namibia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Stanislaus von Krolikowski, O.S.F.S. † ( 1910 Appointed - 21 Jan 1923 Died)
Mattias Eder, O.S.F.S. † (16 Mar 1923 Appointed - 1930 Resigned)
Josef Klemann, O.S.F.S. † (24 Feb 1931 Appointed - 10 Nov 1942 Resigned)
John Francis Eich, O.S.F.S. † (10 Nov 1942 Succeeded - 4 Feb 1947 Died)
Francis Xavier Esser, O.S.F.S. † (13 Jan 1949 Appointed - 9 Jun 1955 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Keimoes)
Edward Francis Joseph Schlotterback, O.S.F.S. † (24 Mar 1956 Appointed - 2 Oct 1989 Retired)
Anthony Chiminello, O.S.F.S. † (28 May 1993 Appointed - 23 Nov 2002 Died)
Philipp Pöllitzer, O.M.I. (31 May 2007 Appointed - 21 Jul 2017 Retired)
Willem Christiaans, O.S.F.S. (7 Feb 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
7 July 1909	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River (Grand Namaqualand)	Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand (erected)
2 June 1913	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand (Gobabis, Windhuk, Karibib, and Swakopmund)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore
Vicariate Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
14 July 1930	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
Vicariate Apostolic of Keetmanshoop
13 January 1949	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Great Namaqualand	Vicariate Apostolic of Keetmanshoop
Diocese of Keetmanshoop
14 March 1994	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Keetmanshoop	Diocese of Keetmanshoop

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 Keetmanshoop

1950 9,385 58,000 16.2% 1 19 20 469 23 63 21 ap1951

1970 18,011 81,144 22.2% 26 26 692 35 84 ap1971

1980 24,100 109,700 22.0% 1 25 26 926 7 37 59 22 ap1981

1990 30,502 162,000 18.8% 26 26 1,173 9 35 54 22 ap1991

Diocese of Keetmanshoop

1999 35,847 155,000 23.1% 1 17 18 1,991 12 27 48 21 ap2000

2000 36,900 158,000 23.4% 1 16 17 2,170 12 23 51 21 ap2001

2001 37,600 161,000 23.4% 15 15 2,506 12 23 47 21 ap2002

2002 37,575 161,000 23.3% 1 16 17 2,210 11 25 47 21 ap2003

2003 37,973 137,675 27.6% 2 19 21 1,808 11 26 48 21 ap2004

2004 38,356 137,675 27.9% 2 18 20 1,917 11 23 49 21 ap2005

2006 40,000 144,000 27.8% 2 16 18 2,222 9 18 47 21 ap2007

2013 41,365 168,400 24.6% 4 13 17 2,433 8 14 46 11 ap2014

2016 42,570 180,000 23.6% 3 13 16 2,660 13 17 48 11 ap2017

2019 45,000 183,000 24.6% 2 10 12 3,750 11 11 41 9 ap2020

2021 46,000 185,000 24.9% 3 8 11 4,181 11 8 38 10 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 Keetmanshoop
1950	9,385	58,000	16.2%	1	19	20	469		23	63	21	ap1951
1970	18,011	81,144	22.2%		26	26	692		35	84		ap1971
1980	24,100	109,700	22.0%	1	25	26	926	7	37	59	22	ap1981
1990	30,502	162,000	18.8%		26	26	1,173	9	35	54	22	ap1991
Diocese of Keetmanshoop
1999	35,847	155,000	23.1%	1	17	18	1,991	12	27	48	21	ap2000
2000	36,900	158,000	23.4%	1	16	17	2,170	12	23	51	21	ap2001
2001	37,600	161,000	23.4%		15	15	2,506	12	23	47	21	ap2002
2002	37,575	161,000	23.3%	1	16	17	2,210	11	25	47	21	ap2003
2003	37,973	137,675	27.6%	2	19	21	1,808	11	26	48	21	ap2004
2004	38,356	137,675	27.9%	2	18	20	1,917	11	23	49	21	ap2005
2006	40,000	144,000	27.8%	2	16	18	2,222	9	18	47	21	ap2007
2013	41,365	168,400	24.6%	4	13	17	2,433	8	14	46	11	ap2014
2016	42,570	180,000	23.6%	3	13	16	2,660	13	17	48	11	ap2017
2019	45,000	183,000	24.6%	2	10	12	3,750	11	11	41	9	ap2020
2021	46,000	185,000	24.9%	3	8	11	4,181	11	8	38	10	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Anthony Chiminello, O.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 May 1993; Bishop: 14 Mar 1994 to 23 Nov 2002)
Mattias Eder, O.S.F.S. † (Prefect: 16 Mar 1923 to 1930)
John Francis Eich, O.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 28 Apr 1942; Vicar Apostolic: 10 Nov 1942 to 4 Feb 1947)
Francis Xavier Esser, O.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jan 1949 to 9 Jun 1955)
Josef Klemann, O.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Feb 1931 to 10 Nov 1942)
Stanislaus von Krolikowski, O.S.F.S. † (Prefect: 1910 to 21 Jan 1923)
Edward Francis Joseph Schlotterback, O.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Mar 1956 to 2 Oct 1989)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 1, Page 581
Vicariate Apostolic of Great Namaqualand
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 116
Vicariate Apostolic of Keetmanshoop
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 41, Page 82
Diocese of Keetmanshoop
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 555, and Page 556

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Diocese of Keetmanshoop

Dioecesis Keetmanshoopensis