Shinyanga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Liberatus Sangu, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 9 August 1956
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mwanza
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 31,500 (12,166 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.catholicdioceseofshy.or.tz/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 47, Shinyanga, Tanzania
Telephone: (028)276.30.40
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
- Latin Name: Masvaensis
- Split: 24 June 1950
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Diocese of Maswa
- Latin Name: Masvaensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tabora
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Edward Aloysius McGurkin, M.M. † (4 Jul 1956 Appointed - 30 Jan 1975 Resigned)
Castor Sekwa † (30 Jan 1975 Appointed - 4 Jun 1996 Died)
Aloysius Balina † (8 Aug 1997 Appointed - 6 Nov 2012 Died)
Liberatus Sangu (2 Feb 2015 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
24 June 1950	Split	Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa	Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma (Musoma and Nord Mara) Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
24 June 1950	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa (Continental part of Wakerewe)	Vicariate Apostolic of Mwanza
Diocese of Maswa
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa	Diocese of Maswa
Diocese of Shinyanga
9 August 1956	Name Changed	Diocese of Maswa	Diocese of Shinyanga
18 November 1987	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Shinyanga (from Tabora)

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 Maswa

1950 2,733 10 10 273 ap1951

Diocese of Maswa

Diocese of Shinyanga

1970 43,972 741,945 5.9% 5 32 37 1,188 37 18 20 ap1971

1980 71,774 1,260,980 5.7% 6 22 28 2,563 24 27 23 ap1981

1990 113,502 1,694,337 6.7% 12 21 33 3,439 24 38 23 ap1991

1999 185,390 2,127,790 8.7% 28 21 49 3,783 23 51 25 ap2000

2000 190,442 2,197,790 8.7% 29 22 51 3,734 26 51 25 ap2001

2001 209,638 2,350,000 8.9% 28 22 50 4,192 27 59 25 ap2002

2002 235,390 2,247,000 10.5% 31 18 49 4,803 20 44 26 ap2003

2003 245,480 2,267,271 10.8% 31 16 47 5,222 18 44 26 ap2004

2004 284,590 2,001,893 14.2% 29 14 43 6,618 16 41 25 ap2005

2010 696,000 2,280,000 30.5% 40 19 59 11,796 19 50 26 ap2011

2014 767,000 2,511,000 30.5% 44 20 64 11,984 20 54 28 ap2015

2017 834,760 2,733,850 30.5% 57 10 67 12,459 10 9 31 ap2018

2020 915,780 2,999,160 30.5% 60 6 66 13,875 6 2 35 ap2021

2022 973,000 3,188,000 30.5% 61 6 67 14,522 6 2 35 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
1950	2,733				10	10	273				ap1951
Diocese of Maswa
Diocese of Shinyanga
1970	43,972	741,945	5.9%	5	32	37	1,188	37	18	20	ap1971
1980	71,774	1,260,980	5.7%	6	22	28	2,563	24	27	23	ap1981
1990	113,502	1,694,337	6.7%	12	21	33	3,439	24	38	23	ap1991
1999	185,390	2,127,790	8.7%	28	21	49	3,783	23	51	25	ap2000
2000	190,442	2,197,790	8.7%	29	22	51	3,734	26	51	25	ap2001
2001	209,638	2,350,000	8.9%	28	22	50	4,192	27	59	25	ap2002
2002	235,390	2,247,000	10.5%	31	18	49	4,803	20	44	26	ap2003
2003	245,480	2,267,271	10.8%	31	16	47	5,222	18	44	26	ap2004
2004	284,590	2,001,893	14.2%	29	14	43	6,618	16	41	25	ap2005
2010	696,000	2,280,000	30.5%	40	19	59	11,796	19	50	26	ap2011
2014	767,000	2,511,000	30.5%	44	20	64	11,984	20	54	28	ap2015
2017	834,760	2,733,850	30.5%	57	10	67	12,459	10	9	31	ap2018
2020	915,780	2,999,160	30.5%	60	6	66	13,875	6	2	35	ap2021
2022	973,000	3,188,000	30.5%	61	6	67	14,522	6	2	35	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Aloysius Balina † (Priest: 27 Jun 1971 to 8 Nov 1984; Bishop: 8 Aug 1997 to 6 Nov 2012)
Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (Apostolic Administrator: 24 Jun 1950 to 25 Mar 1953)
Edward Aloysius McGurkin, M.M. † (Bishop: 4 Jul 1956 to 30 Jan 1975)
Castor Sekwa † (Priest: 15 Aug 1959; Bishop: 30 Jan 1975 to 4 Jun 1996)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 65, and Page 66
Diocese of Maswa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
Diocese of Shinyanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 371, and Page 372
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 354, and Page 355

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Diocese of Shinyanga

Dioecesis Shinyangaensis