Wewak (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anthony Joseph Burgess, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madang
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 36,919 (14,259 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, P.O. Box 107, Wewak, E.S.P. 531, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 456-1675
Fax: 456-2573

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
- Split: 25 July 1913
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
- Name Changed: 14 November 1922
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea
- Latin Name: Novae Guineae Centralis
- Elevated: 22 August 1931
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
- Latin Name: Ueuakensis
- Name Changed: 15 May 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Canisius Theodorus Gellings, SS.CC. † (19 Aug 1913 Appointed - 1918 Died)
Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC. † ( 1918 Appointed - 1922 Died)
Teodosio Heikenrath, SS.CC. † ( 1922 Appointed - 1923 Died)
Joseph Lörks, S.V.D. † (19 Jun 1928 Appointed - 15 Mar 1945 Died)
Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (8 Jul 1948 Appointed - Aug 1987 Resigned)
Raymond Philip Kalisz, S.V.D. † (24 Apr 1980 Appointed - 14 Aug 2002 Retired)
Anthony Joseph Burgess (14 Aug 2002 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Western 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
Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
14 November 1922	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land	Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea
22 August 1931	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea	Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea
15 May 1952	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea	Prefecture Apostolic of Aitape (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
15 May 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea	Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak	Vicariate Apostolic of Mount Hagen (erected)
Diocese of Wewak
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak	Diocese of Wewak

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 Central New Guinea

1950 33,625 296,944 11.3% 46 46 730 33 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak

Diocese of Wewak

1970 84,392 195,719 43.1% 11 53 64 1,318 1 96 69 ap1971

1980 113,000 208,000 54.3% 7 53 60 1,883 7 101 57 ap1981

1990 125,350 197,641 63.4% 8 53 61 2,054 7 90 77 ap1991

1999 89,280 145,264 61.5% 18 41 59 1,513 6 74 67 ap2000

2000 182,323 278,998 65.3% 19 33 52 3,506 6 70 60 ap2001

2001 187,755 280,258 67.0% 22 32 54 3,476 6 69 77 ap2002

2002 193,174 288,968 66.8% 24 35 59 3,274 6 72 60 ap2003

2003 193,937 292,597 66.3% 25 25 50 3,878 5 62 60 ap2004

2004 195,950 295,700 66.3% 23 21 44 4,453 4 46 68 ap2005

2010 210,000 344,000 61.0% 22 15 37 5,675 1 35 72 45 ap2011

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 Central New Guinea
1950	33,625	296,944	11.3%		46	46	730				33	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
Diocese of Wewak
1970	84,392	195,719	43.1%	11	53	64	1,318	1	96	69		ap1971
1980	113,000	208,000	54.3%	7	53	60	1,883	7	101	57		ap1981
1990	125,350	197,641	63.4%	8	53	61	2,054	7	90	77		ap1991
1999	89,280	145,264	61.5%	18	41	59	1,513	6	74	67		ap2000
2000	182,323	278,998	65.3%	19	33	52	3,506	6	70	60		ap2001
2001	187,755	280,258	67.0%	22	32	54	3,476	6	69	77		ap2002
2002	193,174	288,968	66.8%	24	35	59	3,274	6	72	60		ap2003
2003	193,937	292,597	66.3%	25	25	50	3,878	5	62	60		ap2004
2004	195,950	295,700	66.3%	23	21	44	4,453	4	46	68		ap2005
2010	210,000	344,000	61.0%	22	15	37	5,675	1	35	72	45	ap2011

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jul 1948; Bishop: 15 Nov 1966; Apostolic Administrator: 19 Dec 1975 to Aug 1987)
Cherubim Dambui † (Priest: 5 Dec 1974 to 30 Oct 2000)
Canisius Theodorus Gellings, SS.CC. † (Prefect: 19 Aug 1913 to 1918)
Teodosio Heikenrath, SS.CC. † (Prefect: 1922 to 1923)
Raymond Philip Kalisz, S.V.D. † (Bishop: 24 Apr 1980 to 14 Aug 2002)
Joseph Lörks, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 19 Jun 1928; Apostolic Administrator: 22 Aug 1931; Vicar Apostolic: 23 May 1933 to 15 Mar 1945)
Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC. † (Prefect: 1918 to 1922)

Diocese of Wewak

Dioecesis Ueuakensis