Mweka (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Oscar Nkolo Kanowa, C.I.C.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 29 September 1964
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kananga
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 21,700 (8,381 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Évêché, B.P. 17, Mweka; B.P. 70, Kananga, Kasai Occidnetal, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: 999.229.533; (082)42.43.026

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Mweka
- Latin Name: Mvekaensis
- Erected: 24 March 1953
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Marcel Evariste Van Rengen, C.J. † (11 Jan 1957 Appointed - 15 Mar 1988 Died)
Gérard Mulumba Kalemba † (19 Jan 1989 Appointed - 18 Feb 2017 Retired)
Oscar Nkolo Kanowa, C.I.C.M. (18 Feb 2017 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Mweka
24 March 1953	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Luluabourg (Region contained by the rivers Sankuru, Lombele, Lulua, Lele, Luele, Lueme, and Kasai)	Prefecture Apostolic of Mweka (erected)
Diocese of Mweka
29 September 1964	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Mweka	Diocese of Mweka
24 August 1972	Territory Lost	Diocese of Mweka (Bena-Tshiadi)	Archdiocese of Kananga

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

Diocese of Mweka

1970 50,079 242,332 20.7% 18 18 2,782 29 13 ap1971

1980 62,200 251,000 24.8% 1 11 12 5,183 17 12 ap1981

1990 150,000 350,000 42.9% 9 11 20 7,500 14 10 9 ap1991

1997 195,000 450,000 43.3% 18 13 31 6,290 17 6 11 ap2000

2000 190,000 400,000 47.5% 23 11 34 5,588 16 4 12 ap2001

2001 196,500 420,000 46.8% 21 11 32 6,140 17 4 12 ap2004

2013 336,445 807,000 41.7% 29 11 40 8,411 21 13 14 ap2014

2016 365,000 873,000 41.8% 27 11 38 9,605 21 11 14 ap2017

2019 400,960 998,744 40.1% 37 10 47 8,531 20 13 15 ap2020

2021 436,700 1,063,680 41.1% 34 12 46 9,493 14 14 15 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Mweka
1970	50,079	242,332	20.7%		18	18	2,782	29	13		ap1971
1980	62,200	251,000	24.8%	1	11	12	5,183	17	12		ap1981
1990	150,000	350,000	42.9%	9	11	20	7,500	14	10	9	ap1991
1997	195,000	450,000	43.3%	18	13	31	6,290	17	6	11	ap2000
2000	190,000	400,000	47.5%	23	11	34	5,588	16	4	12	ap2001
2001	196,500	420,000	46.8%	21	11	32	6,140	17	4	12	ap2004
2013	336,445	807,000	41.7%	29	11	40	8,411	21	13	14	ap2014
2016	365,000	873,000	41.8%	27	11	38	9,605	21	11	14	ap2017
2019	400,960	998,744	40.1%	37	10	47	8,531	20	13	15	ap2020
2021	436,700	1,063,680	41.1%	34	12	46	9,493	14	14	15	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Emery Kabongo Kanundowi (Apostolic Administrator: 30 Mar 1988 to 9 Jul 1989)
Oscar Nkolo Kanowa, C.I.C.M. (Bishop: 18 Feb 2017 - )
Libère Pwongo Bope

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Gérard Mulumba Kalemba † (Bishop: 19 Jan 1989 to 18 Feb 2017)
Marcel Evariste Van Rengen, C.J. † (Prefect: 11 Jan 1957; Bishop: 29 Sep 1964 to 15 Mar 1988)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Mweka
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 531, to Page 533
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377
Diocese of Mweka
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 563, and Page 564

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Diocese of Mweka

Dioecesis Mvekaensis