Oudtshoorn (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Noel Andrew Rucastle, Bishop
Edward Robert Adams, Bishop Emeritus
Francisco Fortunato de Gouveia, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cape Town {Kaapstad}
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 113,000 (43,646 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.bisdomoudtshoorn.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, 42 St. Saviours Street, P.O. Box 97, Oudtshoorn 6620, South Africa
Telephone: (044)279.1715
Fax: 272.8908

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}
- Latin Name: Districtus Centralis Promontorii Bonae Spei
- Erected: 3 August 1874
- Country: South Africa
Prefecture Apostolic of Oudtshoorn
- Latin Name: Oudtshoornensis
- Name Changed: 13 June 1939
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Oudtshoorn
- Latin Name: Oudtshoornensis
- Elevated: 9 December 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Franziskus Xaver Hennemann, S.A.C. † (21 Jun 1922 Appointed - 30 Jun 1933 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale})
Teodoro Koenig, S.A.C. † (12 Jan 1934 Appointed - 1947 Resigned)
Bruno-Augustin Hippel, S.A.C. † (9 Dec 1948 Appointed - 2 Oct 1968 Resigned)
Manfred Gottschalk, S.A.C. † (6 Mar 1969 Appointed - 20 Apr 1982 Died)
Edward Robert Adams (2 May 1983 Appointed - 28 May 2010 Retired)
Francisco Fortunato de Gouveia (28 May 2010 Appointed - 2 Jul 2018 Resigned)
Noel Andrew Rucastle (4 May 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}
3 August 1874	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale} (erected)
20 June 1885	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River (erected)
16 March 1927	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River (Calvinia and Fraserburg)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}
16 March 1927	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale} (Prieska)	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
28 June 1930	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale} (Worcester, Tulbagh, Ceres, Swellendam, Riversday, Montagu, Robertson, Laingsburg, Sutherland, and Ladysmith)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}
9 April 1934	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale} (Island of Saint Helena)	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale} (Islands of Ascension and Tristan de Cunha)
Prefecture Apostolic of Oudtshoorn
13 June 1939	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Oudtshoorn
Vicariate Apostolic of Oudtshoorn
9 December 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Oudtshoorn	Vicariate Apostolic of Oudtshoorn
Diocese of Oudtshoorn
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Oudtshoorn	Diocese of Oudtshoorn
27 September 1979	Territory Lost	Diocese of Oudtshoorn (Calvinia and Williston)	Diocese of Keimoes

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 Oudtshoorn

1950 3,780 356,541 1.1% 3 17 20 189 27 109 ap1951

Diocese of Oudtshoorn

1970 14,011 600,000 2.3% 3 25 28 500 31 110 24 ap1971

1980 12,639 523,440 2.4% 1 23 24 526 30 75 25 ap1981

1990 14,300 553,000 2.6% 4 16 20 715 2 24 45 33 ap1991

1999 22,522 816,167 2.8% 7 14 21 1,072 3 21 34 17 ap2000

2000 28,158 856,975 3.3% 7 14 21 1,340 4 22 34 17 ap2001

2001 24,774 858,476 2.9% 8 14 22 1,126 4 21 27 17 ap2002

2002 24,863 944,324 2.6% 9 14 23 1,081 4 19 27 17 ap2003

2003 25,088 950,400 2.6% 10 13 23 1,090 3 17 19 17 ap2004

2004 26,344 997,920 2.6% 10 9 19 1,386 5 12 22 17 ap2005

2013 27,656 1,088,000 2.5% 14 8 22 1,257 6 9 26 17 ap2014

2016 30,450 1,145,000 2.7% 13 10 23 1,323 4 10 27 17 ap2017

2019 33,120 1,194,860 2.8% 13 9 22 1,505 2 11 23 14 ap2020

2021 35,160 982,300 3.6% 13 9 22 1,598 1 11 23 14 ap2022

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 Oudtshoorn
1950	3,780	356,541	1.1%	3	17	20	189		27	109		ap1951
Diocese of Oudtshoorn
1970	14,011	600,000	2.3%	3	25	28	500		31	110	24	ap1971
1980	12,639	523,440	2.4%	1	23	24	526		30	75	25	ap1981
1990	14,300	553,000	2.6%	4	16	20	715	2	24	45	33	ap1991
1999	22,522	816,167	2.8%	7	14	21	1,072	3	21	34	17	ap2000
2000	28,158	856,975	3.3%	7	14	21	1,340	4	22	34	17	ap2001
2001	24,774	858,476	2.9%	8	14	22	1,126	4	21	27	17	ap2002
2002	24,863	944,324	2.6%	9	14	23	1,081	4	19	27	17	ap2003
2003	25,088	950,400	2.6%	10	13	23	1,090	3	17	19	17	ap2004
2004	26,344	997,920	2.6%	10	9	19	1,386	5	12	22	17	ap2005
2013	27,656	1,088,000	2.5%	14	8	22	1,257	6	9	26	17	ap2014
2016	30,450	1,145,000	2.7%	13	10	23	1,323	4	10	27	17	ap2017
2019	33,120	1,194,860	2.8%	13	9	22	1,505	2	11	23	14	ap2020
2021	35,160	982,300	3.6%	13	9	22	1,598	1	11	23	14	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Edward Robert Adams (Bishop: 2 May 1983 to 28 May 2010)
Francisco Fortunato de Gouveia (Bishop: 28 May 2010 to 2 Jul 2018)
Noel Andrew Rucastle (Bishop: 4 May 2020 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Manfred Gottschalk, S.A.C. † (Bishop: 6 Mar 1969 to 20 Apr 1982)
Franziskus Xaver Hennemann, S.A.C. † (Prefect: 21 Jun 1922 to 30 Jun 1933)
Bruno-Augustin Hippel, S.A.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1948; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 2 Oct 1968)
Teodoro Koenig, S.A.C. † (Prefect: 12 Jan 1934 to 1947)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 268, and Page 269
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 43, and Page 44

Vicariate Apostolic of Oudtshoorn