Archdiocese of Songea

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Lindi
  • Latin Name: Lindiensis
  • Erected: 12 November 1913
  • Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

• Territorial Abbey of Lindi
  • Latin Name: Lindiensis
  • Elevated: 15 December 1927
  • Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

• Territorial Abbey of Peramiho
  • Latin Name: Peramihoensis
  • Name Changed: 23 December 1931
  • Immediately Subject to the Holy See
  • Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

• Diocese of Songea
  • Latin Name: Songeana
  • Name Changed: 6 February 1969
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam
  • Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Willibrord Lay, O.S.B. † (25 Nov 1913 Appointed - 1922 Resigned)
• Gallus (Bernhard) Steiger, O.S.B. † (22 Feb 1922 Appointed - 6 Dec 1952 Resigned)
• Eberhard (Hermann) Spiess (Spieß), O.S.B. † (23 Sep 1953 Appointed - 6 Feb 1969 Resigned)
• James Joseph Komba † (6 Feb 1969 Appointed - 1 Feb 1992 Died)
• Norbert Wendelin Mtega (6 Jul 1992 Appointed - 15 May 2013 Resigned)
• Damian Denis Dallu (14 Mar 2014 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Territorial Abbey of Peramiho
1950	130,148	250,000	52.1%	4	64	68	1,913		134	145	29	ap1951
Diocese of Songea
1970	212,457	321,500	66.1%	50	64	114	1,863		148	279	41	ap1971
1980	285,200	441,600	64.6%	70	47	117	2,437		142	313	43	ap1981
Archdiocese of Songea
1990	190,862	356,603	53.5%	43	38	81	2,356		195	389	23	ap1991
1999	231,324	459,817	50.3%	58	28	86	2,689		187	422	25	ap2000
2000	238,910	474,989	50.3%	63	32	95	2,514		188	435	25	ap2001
2001	244,411	511,380	47.8%	70	52	122	2,003		210	438	25	ap2002
2002	245,411	512,000	47.9%	59	59	118	2,079		230	432	25	ap2003
2003	223,991	464,821	48.2%	61	47	108	2,073		219	497	26	ap2004
2004	223,111	476,161	46.9%	62	43	105	2,124		227	458	27	ap2005
2010	273,360	529,000	51.7%	58	41	99	2,761		241	432	27	ap2011
2014	321,000	594,000	54.0%	77	53	130	2,469		219	537	31	ap2015
2017	313,723	579,300	54.2%	57	30	87	3,606		210	543	32	ap2018
2020	355,630	616,220	57.7%	53	30	83	4,284		249	566	35	ap2021
2022	378,000	655,000	57.7%	54	30	84	4,500		250	566	35	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Damian Denis Dallu (Archbishop: 14 Mar 2014 - )
• Norbert Wendelin Mtega (Archbishop: 6 Jul 1992 to 15 May 2013)
• Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa (Apostolic Administrator: 15 May 2013 to 18 May 2014)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• James Joseph Komba † (Priest: 15 Jul 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Dec 1961; Bishop: 6 Feb 1969; Archbishop: 18 Nov 1987 to 1 Feb 1992)
• Willibrord Lay, O.S.B. † (Prefect: 25 Nov 1913 to 1922)
• Emmanuel Alex Mapunda † (Priest: 8 Aug 1965 to 22 Dec 1986)
• Eberhard (Hermann) Spiess (Spieß), O.S.B. † (Abbot: 23 Sep 1953 to 6 Feb 1969)
• Gallus (Bernhard) Steiger, O.S.B. † (Prefect: 22 Feb 1922; Abbot: 15 Feb 1928 to 6 Dec 1952)

Source(s)

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