Sumbawanga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Beatus Christian Urassa, ALCP/OSS, Bishop
Damian Kyaruzi, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 24 October 1969
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mbeya
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 28,654 (11,067 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 34, Sumbawanga, Tanzania
Telephone: (025)2802.178

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika
- Latin Name: de Tanganyika
- Erected: 27 September 1880
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Karema
- Latin Name: Karemaensis
- Name Changed: 10 May 1946
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Diocese of Karema
- Latin Name: Karemaensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Tabora
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Baptiste-Frézal Charbonnier, M. Afr. † (14 Jan 1887 Appointed - 16 Mar 1888 Died)
Léonce Bridoux, M. Afr. † (15 Jun 1888 Appointed - 20 Oct 1890 Died)
Adolphe Le Chaptois, M. Afr. † (19 Jun 1891 Appointed - 30 Nov 1917 Died)
Joseph-Marie Birraux, M. Afr. † (22 Apr 1920 Appointed - 22 Apr 1936 Appointed, Superior General of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers))
Jan Cornelius van Sambeek, M. Afr. † (19 Nov 1936 Appointed - 10 May 1946 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kigoma)
James C. Holmes-Siedle, M. Afr. † (11 Jul 1946 Appointed - 5 Aug 1958 Appointed, Bishop of Kigoma)
Charles Msakila † (13 Nov 1958 Appointed - 23 Feb 1994 Died)
Damian Kyaruzi (21 Apr 1997 Appointed - 19 Apr 2018 Retired)
Beatus Christian Urassa, ALCP/OSS (19 Apr 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika
27 September 1880	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Africa {Africa Centrale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (erected) (as Pro-Vicariate Apostolic)
1883	Elevated		Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (to Vicariate Apostolic)
11 January 1887	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika	Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Congo {Congo Superiore} (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Unianyembé (erected) ((or 30 Dec 1886))
31 July 1889	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa (erected) (as Pro-Vicariate Apostolic)
8 April 1911	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Upper Congo {Congo Superiore} (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Unianyembé (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Settentrionale} (Boundaries Changed) Vicariate Apostolic of Southern Victoria Nyanza {Victoria-Nyanza Meridionale} (Boundaries Changed)
12 July 1926	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Urundi	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Southern part of Uha) Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora (Central part of Uha) Vicariate Apostolic of Victoria-Nyanza (Northern part of Uha)
18 July 1932	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Eastern part)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Tukuyu (erected)
18 July 1932	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Ngulu and Vgunâa and part of Vgansi)	Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora
18 July 1932	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Bukoba Vicariate Apostolic of Tabora	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Kibondo)
10 May 1946	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Northern region (Uha))	Vicariate Apostolic of Kigoma (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Karema
10 May 1946	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Southern region (Ufipa))	Vicariate Apostolic of Karema
2 February 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Karema (Unyamwanga) Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya (Unyamwanga)
Diocese of Karema
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Karema	Diocese of Karema
Diocese of Sumbawanga
24 October 1969	Name Changed	Diocese of Karema	Diocese of Sumbawanga
23 October 2000	Territory Lost	Diocese of Sumbawanga	Diocese of Mpanda (erected)
21 December 2018	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Sumbawanga (from Tabora to Mbeya)

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 Karema

1950 94,405 94,446 100.0% 17 24 41 2,302 13 13 ap1951

Diocese of Karema

Diocese of Sumbawanga

1970 229,207 293,135 78.2% 45 40 85 2,696 40 98 25 ap1981

1980 306,761 421,169 72.8% 66 17 83 3,695 17 125 25 ap1981

1990 485,703 694,974 69.9% 63 9 72 6,745 10 258 29 ap1991

1999 812,638 1,103,297 73.7% 65 7 72 11,286 57 301 28 ap2000

2000 527,226 603,291 87.4% 52 38 90 5,858 46 280 17 ap2001

2001 580,000 748,821 77.5% 46 5 51 11,372 67 300 22 ap2002

2002 580,000 748,821 77.5% 49 5 54 10,740 82 300 22 ap2003

2003 593,867 928,941 63.9% 48 4 52 11,420 61 295 22 ap2004

2004 607,143 928,941 65.4% 49 4 53 11,455 71 208 22 ap2005

2010 711,680 1,109,760 64.1% 47 7 54 13,179 62 307 23 ap2011

2014 757,451 1,244,330 60.9% 42 6 48 15,780 61 320 24 ap2015

2017 805,388 1,323,080 60.9% 53 7 60 13,423 71 348 21 ap2018

2020 859,710 1,412,320 60.9% 55 4 59 14,571 71 378 21 ap2021

2022 865,430 1,380,271 62.7% 62 10 72 12,019 108 410 26 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Karema
1950	94,405	94,446	100.0%	17	24	41	2,302		13	13	ap1951
Diocese of Karema
Diocese of Sumbawanga
1970	229,207	293,135	78.2%	45	40	85	2,696	40	98	25	ap1981
1980	306,761	421,169	72.8%	66	17	83	3,695	17	125	25	ap1981
1990	485,703	694,974	69.9%	63	9	72	6,745	10	258	29	ap1991
1999	812,638	1,103,297	73.7%	65	7	72	11,286	57	301	28	ap2000
2000	527,226	603,291	87.4%	52	38	90	5,858	46	280	17	ap2001
2001	580,000	748,821	77.5%	46	5	51	11,372	67	300	22	ap2002
2002	580,000	748,821	77.5%	49	5	54	10,740	82	300	22	ap2003
2003	593,867	928,941	63.9%	48	4	52	11,420	61	295	22	ap2004
2004	607,143	928,941	65.4%	49	4	53	11,455	71	208	22	ap2005
2010	711,680	1,109,760	64.1%	47	7	54	13,179	62	307	23	ap2011
2014	757,451	1,244,330	60.9%	42	6	48	15,780	61	320	24	ap2015
2017	805,388	1,323,080	60.9%	53	7	60	13,423	71	348	21	ap2018
2020	859,710	1,412,320	60.9%	55	4	59	14,571	71	378	21	ap2021
2022	865,430	1,380,271	62.7%	62	10	72	12,019	108	410	26	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph-Marie Birraux, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 22 Apr 1920 to 22 Apr 1936)
Léonce Bridoux, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jun 1888 to 20 Oct 1890)
Jean-Baptiste-Frézal Charbonnier, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jan 1887 to 16 Mar 1888)
James C. Holmes-Siedle, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Jul 1946; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 5 Aug 1958)
Adolphe Le Chaptois, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jun 1891 to 30 Nov 1917)
Charles Msakila † (Priest: 31 Aug 1947; Bishop: 13 Nov 1958 to 23 Feb 1994)
Jan Cornelius van Sambeek, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Nov 1936 to 10 May 1946)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 199
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 488, and Page 489
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 399
Vicariate Apostolic of Karema
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 39, Page 80, to Page 82
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 445, and Page 446
Diocese of Karema
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
Diocese of Sumbawanga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 805, and Page 806
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 111, Page 258, and Page 259

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Diocese of Sumbawanga

Dioecesis Sumbavangensis