Archdiocese of Madang

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Bishop(s) William Joseph Kurtz, S.V.D., Archbishop Benedict To Varpin, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Aitape Lae Vanimo Wewak

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 15 November 1966 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Papua New Guinea Square Kilometers: 27,752 (10,719 Square Miles) Web Site: http://www.catholicpng.org.pg/dioc/madang.html Mailing Address: P.O. Box 750, Madang, Papua New Guinea Telephone: 85.22.599 Fax: 85.22.596

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
  • Erected: 24 February 1896
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

• Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
  • Split: 25 July 1913
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

• Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
  • Latin Name: Novae Guineae Orientalis
  • Elevated: 23 November 1922
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

• Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
  • Latin Name: Portus Alexii
  • Name Changed: 15 May 1952
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Everardo Limbrock, S.V.D. † ( 1900 Appointed - 1919 Died)
• Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (24 Nov 1922 Appointed - 23 Feb 1944 Died)
• Stephen Anthony Appelhans, S.V.D. † (8 Jul 1948 Appointed - 16 Jul 1951 Died)
• Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (8 Jan 1953 Appointed - 19 Dec 1975 Retired)
• Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (19 Dec 1975 Appointed - 31 Dec 1987 Retired)
• Benedict To Varpin (31 Dec 1987 Succeeded - 24 Jul 2001 Resigned)
• William Joseph Kurtz, S.V.D. (24 Jul 2001 Succeeded - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
24 February 1896	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
25 July 1913	Split	Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land Prefecture Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
23 November 1922	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
15 May 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak	Vicariate Apostolic of Mount Hagen (erected)
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen	Vicariate Apostolic of Lae (erected)
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen	Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka (erected)
Archdiocese of Madang
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen	Archdiocese of Madang

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Madang
1970	57,037	162,717	35.1%	5	51	56	1,018		78	36	24	ap1971
1980	74,900	226,000	33.1%	5	41	46	1,628		70	71	27	ap1981
1990	95,287	269,000	35.4%	7	48	55	1,732		87	64	28	ap1991
1999	128,224	283,154	45.3%	12	22	34	3,771		57	95	29	ap2000
2000	138,494	283,154	48.9%	12	22	34	4,073	2	57	95	29	ap2001
2001	138,494	283,154	48.9%	12	22	34	4,073		31	58	28	ap2002
2002	139,956	283,154	49.4%	12	22	34	4,116		30	58	28	ap2003
2003	140,000	283,154	49.4%	13	27	40	3,500		33	58	28	ap2004
2004	142,000	285,154	49.8%	14	25	39	3,641		31	56	28	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• William Joseph Kurtz, S.V.D. (Coadjutor Archbishop: 15 Oct 1999; Archbishop: 24 Jul 2001)
• Benedict To Varpin (Coadjutor Archbishop: 26 Jan 1987; Archbishop: 31 Dec 1987 to 24 Jul 2001)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Stephen Anthony Appelhans, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jul 1948 to 16 Jul 1951)
• Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (Archbishop: 19 Dec 1975 to 31 Dec 1987)
• Everardo Limbrock, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 1900 to 1919)
• Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jan 1953; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 19 Dec 1975)
• Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Nov 1922 to 23 Feb 1944)