Morogoro (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe, S.D.S., Bishop
Telesphore Richard Mkude, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 25 March 1953
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 33,186 (12,818 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.morogoro.tk/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 640, Morogoro, Tanzania
Telephone: 767.275.206
Fax: (023)2613.341

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Central Zanguebar {Zanguebar Centrale}
- Latin Name: Zanguebarensis Centralis
- Erected: 11 May 1906
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo
- Latin Name: Bagamoyensis
- Name Changed: 21 December 1906
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
- Square Kilometers: 65,000 (25,106 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

François-Xavier Vogt, C.S.Sp. † (25 Jul 1906 Appointed - 6 May 1922 Appointed, Apostolic Administrator of Cameroun)
Bartholomew Stanislaus Wilson, C.S.Sp. † (4 Jan 1924 Appointed - 23 May 1933 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Sierra Leone)
Bernhard Gerhard Hilhorst, C.S.Sp. † (26 Feb 1934 Appointed - 12 Dec 1953 Resigned)
Hermanus Johannes (Herman Jan) van Elswijk, C.S.Sp. † (18 Jul 1954 Appointed - 15 Dec 1966 Resigned)
Adriani Mkoba † (15 Dec 1966 Appointed - 6 Nov 1992 Resigned)
Telesphore Richard Mkude (5 Apr 1993 Appointed - 30 Dec 2020 Retired)
Lazarus Vitalis Msimbe, S.D.S. (31 May 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Central Zanguebar {Zanguebar Centrale}
11 May 1906	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Zanguebar	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Zanguebar {Zanguebar Centrale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo
21 December 1906	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Zanguebar {Zanguebar Centrale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo
13 September 1910	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo (Northern part)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kilima-Njaro (erected)
7 May 1913	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo (Boundaries Adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam (Boundaries Adjusted)
28 January 1935	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa Vicariate Apostolic of Kilima-Njaro	Prefecture Apostolic of Dodoma (erected)
Diocese of Morogoro
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo	Diocese of Morogoro
7 March 2025	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam Diocese of Morogoro	Diocese of Bagamoyo (erected)

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 Bagamoyo

1950 85,256 400,000 21.3% 5 58 63 1,353 2 32 ap1951

Diocese of Morogoro

1970 181,888 673,869 27.0% 21 58 79 2,302 72 187 ap1971

1980 234,134 853,000 27.4% 40 21 61 3,838 25 232 40 ap1981

1990 305,127 1,046,480 29.2% 45 31 76 4,014 39 481 54 ap1991

1999 502,600 1,070,706 46.9% 67 47 114 4,408 190 462 51 ap2000

2000 435,777 1,070,706 40.7% 63 45 108 4,034 215 363 53 ap2001

2001 465,349 1,070,706 43.5% 64 47 111 4,192 243 440 54 ap2002

2002 498,920 1,225,851 40.7% 68 28 96 5,197 155 487 53 ap2003

2003 518,877 1,274,885 40.7% 73 52 125 4,151 234 550 53 ap2004

2004 534,443 1,313,131 40.7% 74 52 126 4,241 150 523 53 ap2005

2013 680,907 1,665,742 40.9% 80 58 138 4,934 303 736 57 ap2014

2016 690,806 1,596,000 43.3% 83 86 169 4,087 403 645 59 ap2017

2019 735,570 1,738,225 42.3% 84 93 177 4,155 444 691 63 ap2020

2021 778,100 1,838,700 42.3% 86 93 179 4,346 444 691 63 ap2022

2023 826,020 1,952,880 42.3% 86 94 180 4,589 502 721 76 ap2024

2025 680,435 1,747,982 38.9% 113 276 389 1,749 16 55 bul:7Mar2025

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo
1950	85,256	400,000	21.3%	5	58	63	1,353	2	32		ap1951
Diocese of Morogoro
1970	181,888	673,869	27.0%	21	58	79	2,302	72	187		ap1971
1980	234,134	853,000	27.4%	40	21	61	3,838	25	232	40	ap1981
1990	305,127	1,046,480	29.2%	45	31	76	4,014	39	481	54	ap1991
1999	502,600	1,070,706	46.9%	67	47	114	4,408	190	462	51	ap2000
2000	435,777	1,070,706	40.7%	63	45	108	4,034	215	363	53	ap2001
2001	465,349	1,070,706	43.5%	64	47	111	4,192	243	440	54	ap2002
2002	498,920	1,225,851	40.7%	68	28	96	5,197	155	487	53	ap2003
2003	518,877	1,274,885	40.7%	73	52	125	4,151	234	550	53	ap2004
2004	534,443	1,313,131	40.7%	74	52	126	4,241	150	523	53	ap2005
2013	680,907	1,665,742	40.9%	80	58	138	4,934	303	736	57	ap2014
2016	690,806	1,596,000	43.3%	83	86	169	4,087	403	645	59	ap2017
2019	735,570	1,738,225	42.3%	84	93	177	4,155	444	691	63	ap2020
2021	778,100	1,838,700	42.3%	86	93	179	4,346	444	691	63	ap2022
2023	826,020	1,952,880	42.3%	86	94	180	4,589	502	721	76	ap2024
2025	680,435	1,747,982	38.9%	113	276	389	1,749		16	55	bul:7Mar2025

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Bernhard Gerhard Hilhorst, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Feb 1934; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 12 Dec 1953)
Adriani Mkoba † (Priest: 19 Mar 1953; Bishop: 15 Dec 1966 to 6 Nov 1992)
Hermanus Johannes (Herman Jan) van Elswijk, C.S.Sp. † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1954 to 15 Dec 1966)
François-Xavier Vogt, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jul 1906 to 6 May 1922)
Bartholomew Stanislaus Wilson, C.S.Sp. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Jan 1924 to 23 May 1933)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 5, Page 215
Diocese of Morogoro
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710

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Diocese of Morogoro

Dioecesis Morogoroensis