Diocese of Wau

---

Bishop(s) Rudolf Deng Majak, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 12 December 1974 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Juba Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Sudan Square Kilometers: 134,572 (51,978 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 29, Wau, Sudan Telephone: (0841)224.66

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal
  • Erected: 30 May 1913
  • Country: Sudan

• Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal
  • Latin Name: de Bahr el-Ghazal
  • Elevated: 13 June 1917
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Sudan
  • Square Kilometers: 208,000 (80,340 Square Miles)

• Vicariate Apostolic of Wau
  • Latin Name: Vavensis
  • Name Changed: 26 May 1961
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Sudan

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Antonio Stoppani, M.C.C.I. † (30 May 1913 Appointed - Nov 1933 Resigned)
• Rodolfo Orler, M.C.C.I. † (11 Dec 1933 Appointed - 19 Jul 1946 Died)
• Edoardo Mason, M.C.C.I. † (8 May 1947 Appointed - 10 May 1960 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of El Obeid)
• Ireneus Wien Dud † (10 May 1960 Appointed - 12 Dec 1974 Appointed, Archbishop of Juba)
• Gabriel Zubeir Wako (12 Dec 1974 Appointed - 30 Oct 1979 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Khartoum)
• Joseph Bilal Nyekindi † (24 Oct 1980 Appointed - 2 Nov 1995 Resigned)
• Rudolf Deng Majak (2 Nov 1995 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal
30 May 1913	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Africa {Africa Centrale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal
13 June 1917	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal	Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal
12 June 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal	Prefecture Apostolic of Nilo Equatoriale (erected)
3 March 1949	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Bahr el-Gebel Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal	Prefecture Apostolic of Mupoi (erected)
3 July 1955	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Gebel Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal Prefecture Apostolic of Mupoi	Vicariate Apostolic of Rumbek (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Wau
26 May 1961	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal	Vicariate Apostolic of Wau
Diocese of Wau
12 December 1974	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Wau	Diocese of Wau

---

Statistics

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 Bahr el-Ghazal
1950	22,000	750,000	2.9%	3		3	7,333		54	37	11	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Wau
1970	67,000	962,504	7.0%	10		10	6,700	1	10	13		ap1971
Diocese of Wau
1980	212,180	1,398,000	15.2%	15	8	23	9,225		14	10	15	ap1981
1990	477,000	1,770,000	26.9%	5	9	14	34,071		22	17	15	ap1991
1999	760,000	2,450,000	31.0%	10	7	17	44,705		15	13	16	ap2000
2000	990,000	3,000,000	33.0%	19	11	30	33,000		21	15	21	ap2001
2001	1,190,000	3,500,000	34.0%	20	10	30	39,666		20	16	20	ap2002
2002	1,190,000	3,500,000	34.0%	13	6	19	62,631		15	15	17	ap2005

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

---

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Rudolf Deng Majak (Apostolic Administrator: 12 Apr 1992; Bishop: 2 Nov 1995 - )
• Gabriel Zubeir Wako (Priest: 21 Jul 1963; Bishop: 12 Dec 1974 to 30 Oct 1979)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Edoardo Mason, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 May 1947 to 10 May 1960)
• Joseph Bilal Nyekindi † (Priest: 4 May 1969; Bishop: 24 Oct 1980 to 2 Nov 1995)
• Rodolfo Orler, M.C.C.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Dec 1933 to 19 Jul 1946)
• Antonio Stoppani, M.C.C.I. † (Prefect: 30 May 1913; Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jun 1917 to Nov 1933)
• Ireneus Wien Dud † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 May 1960 to 12 Dec 1974)