Madang (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anton Bal, Archbishop
Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 28,886 (11,157 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's Residence, P.O. Box 750, Madang 511, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 422.2599
Fax: 422.2596

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
- Erected: 24 February 1896
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
- Latin Name: Terrae Gulielmi Orientalis
- Split: 25 July 1913
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
- Latin Name: Novae Guineae Orientalis
- Elevated: 23 November 1922
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
- Latin Name: Portus Alexii
- Name Changed: 15 May 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Eberhard Limbrock, S.V.D. † (24 Mar 1896 Appointed - 9 Sep 1914 Resigned)
Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (24 Nov 1922 Appointed - 23 Feb 1944 Died)
Stephen Anthony Appelhans, S.V.D. † (8 Jul 1948 Appointed - 16 Jul 1951 Died)
Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (8 Jan 1953 Appointed - 19 Dec 1975 Retired)
Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (19 Dec 1975 Appointed - 31 Dec 1987 Retired)
Benedict To Varpin † (31 Dec 1987 Succeeded - 24 Jul 2001 Resigned)
William Joseph Kurtz, S.V.D. † (24 Jul 2001 Succeeded - 30 Nov 2010 Retired)
Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap. (30 Nov 2010 Appointed - 26 Jul 2019 Retired)
Anton Bal (26 Jul 2019 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
24 February 1896	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern 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)
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
23 November 1922	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
27 April 1927	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea (Boundaries changed from 142m22' to 143m20')	Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
15 April 1931	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea (Aitape and Sepik)	Prefecture Apostolic of Central New Guinea
Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
15 May 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen Vicariate Apostolic of Wewak	Vicariate Apostolic of Mount Hagen (erected) (Western Highlands)
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen (Eastern Highlands)	Vicariate Apostolic of Goroka (erected)
18 June 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen (Morobe)	Vicariate Apostolic of Lae (erected)
Archdiocese of Madang
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen	Archdiocese of Madang

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Madang

1970 57,037 162,717 35.1% 5 51 56 1,018 78 36 24 ap1971

1980 74,900 226,000 33.1% 5 41 46 1,628 70 71 27 ap1981

1990 95,287 269,000 35.4% 7 48 55 1,732 87 64 28 ap1991

1999 128,224 283,154 45.3% 12 22 34 3,771 57 95 29 ap2000

2000 138,494 283,154 48.9% 12 22 34 4,073 2 57 95 29 ap2001

2001 138,494 283,154 48.9% 12 22 34 4,073 31 58 28 ap2002

2002 139,956 283,154 49.4% 12 22 34 4,116 30 58 28 ap2003

2003 140,000 283,154 49.4% 13 27 40 3,500 33 58 28 ap2004

2004 142,000 285,154 49.8% 14 25 39 3,641 31 56 28 ap2005

2013 268,000 450,000 59.6% 14 24 38 7,052 40 89 29 ap2014

2016 180,224 521,216 34.6% 15 30 45 4,004 42 83 29 ap2017

2019 178,000 515,000 34.6% 18 42 60 2,966 53 71 29 ap2020

2021 185,600 537,650 34.5% 18 42 60 3,093 53 71 29 ap2022

2023 194,000 559,000 34.7% 18 42 60 3,233 53 71 29 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Madang
1970	57,037	162,717	35.1%	5	51	56	1,018		78	36	24	ap1971
1980	74,900	226,000	33.1%	5	41	46	1,628		70	71	27	ap1981
1990	95,287	269,000	35.4%	7	48	55	1,732		87	64	28	ap1991
1999	128,224	283,154	45.3%	12	22	34	3,771		57	95	29	ap2000
2000	138,494	283,154	48.9%	12	22	34	4,073	2	57	95	29	ap2001
2001	138,494	283,154	48.9%	12	22	34	4,073		31	58	28	ap2002
2002	139,956	283,154	49.4%	12	22	34	4,116		30	58	28	ap2003
2003	140,000	283,154	49.4%	13	27	40	3,500		33	58	28	ap2004
2004	142,000	285,154	49.8%	14	25	39	3,641		31	56	28	ap2005
2013	268,000	450,000	59.6%	14	24	38	7,052		40	89	29	ap2014
2016	180,224	521,216	34.6%	15	30	45	4,004		42	83	29	ap2017
2019	178,000	515,000	34.6%	18	42	60	2,966		53	71	29	ap2020
2021	185,600	537,650	34.5%	18	42	60	3,093		53	71	29	ap2022
2023	194,000	559,000	34.7%	18	42	60	3,233		53	71	29	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Stephen Anthony Appelhans, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jul 1948 to 16 Jul 1951)
Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. † (Archbishop: 19 Dec 1975 to 31 Dec 1987)
William Joseph Kurtz, S.V.D. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 15 Oct 1999; Archbishop: 24 Jul 2001 to 30 Nov 2010)
Eberhard Limbrock, S.V.D. † (Prefect: 24 Mar 1896 to 9 Sep 1914)
Adolph Alexander Noser, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jan 1953; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 19 Dec 1975)
Benedict To Varpin † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 26 Jan 1987; Archbishop: 31 Dec 1987 to 24 Jul 2001)
Franz Wolf, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Nov 1922 to 23 Feb 1944)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 12, Page 368, and Page 369
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern New Guinea
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 15, Page 27
Vicariate Apostolic of Alexishafen
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 44, Page 882
Archdiocese of Madang
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482

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Archdiocese of Madang

Archidioecesis Madangana