Wewak (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Józef Roszyński, S.V.D., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Madang
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 36,917 (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
- Latin Name: Terrae Gulielmi Occidentalis
- Split: 25 July 1913
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
- Latin Name: Novae Guineae Centralis
- 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 Teodorus Gellings, SS.CC. † (19 Aug 1913 Appointed - 1918 Resigned)
Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC. † (7 Apr 1914 Appointed - 1922 Resigned)
Teodosio Heikenrath, SS.CC. † ( 1922 Appointed - 1923 Died)
Josef Lörks, S.V.D. † (19 Jun 1928 Appointed - 15 Mar 1945 Died)
Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (8 Jul 1948 Appointed - 15 Aug 1987 Ceased)
Raymond Philip Kalisz, S.V.D. † (24 Apr 1980 Appointed - 14 Aug 2002 Retired)
Anthony Joseph Burgess † (14 Aug 2002 Succeeded - 20 Sep 2013 Retired)
Józef Roszyński, S.V.D. (6 Feb 2015 Appointed - )

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 (Eastern part) Prefecture Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land (Western part)
Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
14 November 1922	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land	Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
27 April 1927	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea (Boundaries changed from 142m22' to 143m20')	Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
15 April 1931	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea (Aitape and Sepik)	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 (Western part of the central territory)	Prefecture Apostolic of Aitape (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
15 May 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea	Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
15 May 1959	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Aitape (Remaining parts of Maprik)	Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
15 May 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak (Remaining parts of Lumi)	Vicariate Apostolic of Aitape
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak	Vicariate Apostolic of Mount Hagen (erected) (Western Highlands)
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

2014 229,000 375,000 61.1% 25 11 36 6,361 31 72 48 ap2015

2017 215,700 445,500 48.4% 21 10 31 6,958 30 72 48 ap2018

2020 228,000 473,880 48.1% 21 10 31 7,354 30 72 48 ap2021

2022 236,000 492,000 48.0% 21 10 31 7,612 30 72 48 ap2023

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
2014	229,000	375,000	61.1%	25	11	36	6,361		31	72	48	ap2015
2017	215,700	445,500	48.4%	21	10	31	6,958		30	72	48	ap2018
2020	228,000	473,880	48.1%	21	10	31	7,354		30	72	48	ap2021
2022	236,000	492,000	48.0%	21	10	31	7,612		30	72	48	ap2023

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 15 Aug 1987)
Anthony Joseph Burgess † (Coadjutor Bishop: 10 May 2000; Bishop: 14 Aug 2002 to 20 Sep 2013)
Cherubim Alfred Dambui † (Priest: 5 Dec 1974 to 30 Oct 2000)
Canisius Teodorus 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)
Josef Lörks, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 19 Jun 1928; Apostolic Administrator: 22 Aug 1931; Vicar Apostolic: 23 May 1933 to 15 Mar 1945)
Michael Marai † (Priest: 6 Dec 1976 to 25 Oct 1988)
Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC. † (Prefect: 7 Apr 1914 to 1922)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 368, and Page 369
Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 646, and Page 647
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 306
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 222
Vicariate Apostolic of Central New Guinea
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 113, and Page 114
Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 882
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 435, and Page 436
Diocese of Wewak
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482

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Diocese of Wewak

Dioecesis Ueuakensis