Mariannhill (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Neil Augustine Frank, O.M.I., Bishop
Pius Mlungisi Dlungwane, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Durban
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 12,612 (4,871 Square Miles)
Description: comprise Districts of Ixopo, Impendle, Richmond, Umzinto, Umbumbulu, parts of Port Shepstone, Camperdown and Pinetown, Polela and Underberg
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 2 Khanyisa Rise, P.O. Box 11001, Mariannhill 3624, South Africa
Telephone: (031)700-2704
Fax: 700-5600

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill
- Latin Name: Collis Mariae seu Mariannhillensis
- Erected: 10 September 1921
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Adalbero Joseph (Michael) Fleischer, C.M.M. † (22 Mar 1922 Appointed - 14 Apr 1950 Retired)
Alphonse Streit, C.M.M. † (23 Dec 1950 Appointed - 21 May 1970 Retired)
Alphonse Streit, C.M.M. † (3 Apr 1951 Ordained Bishop - )
Alphonse Streit, C.M.M. † (5 Jul 1951 Installed - 21 May 1970 Retired)
Martin Elmar Schmid, C.M.M. † (21 May 1970 Appointed - 18 Jun 1980 Died)
Paul Themba Mngoma † (12 Feb 1981 Appointed - 7 Feb 2005 Resigned)
Pius Mlungisi Dlungwane (3 Jun 2006 Appointed - 13 Oct 2022 Retired)
Neil Augustine Frank, O.M.I. (13 Oct 2022 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill
10 September 1921	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Natal (Southern part and Transkeian territories)	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill (erected)
5 December 1924	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Natal (Welbedacht, Mariannhill, and Darrehoék)	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill
30 March 1930	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill (Southern region)	Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata (erected)
8 April 1935	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill (Bizana, Flagstaff, Lusikisiki, Mount Ayliff, Mount Frere, Tabankulu, Mount Currie, and part of Matatiele)	Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie (erected)
Diocese of Mariannhill
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill	Diocese of Mariannhill
21 February 1954	Territory Lost	Diocese of Mariannhill (Uinzimkulu and Alfred and Underberg, Polela, and Port Shepstone (parts south of the river Umzimkulu))	Diocese of Umzimkulu (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 Mariannhill

1949 114,174 500,000 22.8% 10 73 83 1,375 181 196 42 ap1951

Diocese of Mariannhill

1970 191,820 500,000 38.4% 8 70 78 2,459 129 470 1 ap1971

1980 258,960 875,000 29.6% 9 64 73 3,547 114 465 43 ap1981

1990 306,300 1,156,000 26.5% 13 40 53 5,779 1 76 430 41 ap1991

1999 284,500 1,390,000 20.5% 28 29 57 4,991 1 64 400 43 ap2000

2000 264,900 1,420,000 18.7% 27 28 55 4,816 1 59 405 43 ap2001

2001 270,200 1,450,000 18.6% 28 30 58 4,658 61 400 43 ap2002

2003 281,600 1,791,600 15.7% 32 27 59 4,772 55 346 43 ap2004

2004 284,400 1,819,400 15.6% 37 24 61 4,662 55 346 43 ap2005

2013 215,000 2,520,100 8.5% 47 27 74 2,905 46 247 46 ap2014

2016 286,479 2,771,840 10.3% 44 49 93 3,080 83 346 45 ap2017

2019 335,100 2,876,300 11.7% 51 49 100 3,351 98 241 46 ap2020

2021 344,660 2,958,650 11.6% 54 22 76 4,535 62 202 46 ap2022

2023 353,000 3,031,000 11.6% 55 23 78 4,525 76 220 46 ap2024

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 Mariannhill
1949	114,174	500,000	22.8%	10	73	83	1,375		181	196	42	ap1951
Diocese of Mariannhill
1970	191,820	500,000	38.4%	8	70	78	2,459		129	470	1	ap1971
1980	258,960	875,000	29.6%	9	64	73	3,547		114	465	43	ap1981
1990	306,300	1,156,000	26.5%	13	40	53	5,779	1	76	430	41	ap1991
1999	284,500	1,390,000	20.5%	28	29	57	4,991	1	64	400	43	ap2000
2000	264,900	1,420,000	18.7%	27	28	55	4,816	1	59	405	43	ap2001
2001	270,200	1,450,000	18.6%	28	30	58	4,658		61	400	43	ap2002
2003	281,600	1,791,600	15.7%	32	27	59	4,772		55	346	43	ap2004
2004	284,400	1,819,400	15.6%	37	24	61	4,662		55	346	43	ap2005
2013	215,000	2,520,100	8.5%	47	27	74	2,905		46	247	46	ap2014
2016	286,479	2,771,840	10.3%	44	49	93	3,080		83	346	45	ap2017
2019	335,100	2,876,300	11.7%	51	49	100	3,351		98	241	46	ap2020
2021	344,660	2,958,650	11.6%	54	22	76	4,535		62	202	46	ap2022
2023	353,000	3,031,000	11.6%	55	23	78	4,525		76	220	46	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Mansuet Dela Biyase † (Priest: 10 Jul 1960 to 28 Feb 1975)
Pius Bonaventura Dlamini, F.F.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Dec 1967 to 13 Sep 1981)
Adalbero Joseph (Michael) Fleischer, C.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 22 Mar 1922 to 14 Apr 1950)
Paul Themba Mngoma † (Priest: 4 Jul 1971; Bishop: 12 Feb 1981 to 7 Feb 2005)
Martin Elmar Schmid, C.M.M. † (Bishop: 21 May 1970 to 18 Jun 1980)
Alphonse Streit, C.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Dec 1950; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 21 May 1970)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 13, Page 491, and Page 492
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 63, and Page 64
Diocese of Mariannhill
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

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Diocese of Mariannhill

Dioecesis Collis Mariae seu Mariannhillensis