Qacha’s Nek (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Joseph Mopeli Sephamola, O.M.I., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 3 January 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Maseru
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Lesotho
Square Kilometers: 11,602 (4,481 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 5, Qacha's Nek 600, Lesotho
Telephone: 63.127.872

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph-Delphis Des Rosiers, O.M.I. † (3 Jan 1961 Appointed - 17 Jul 1981 Resigned)
Evaristus Thatho Bitsoane † (17 Jul 1981 Appointed - 17 Jul 2010 Died)
Joseph Mopeli Sephamola, O.M.I. (19 Jun 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
3 January 1961	Erected	Diocese of Maseru (Qacha's Nek, Quthing, and Mokholtong)	Diocese of Qacha’s Nek (erected)

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

1969 69,767 195,787 35.6% 1 23 24 2,906 44 147 12 ap1971

1980 109,349 225,000 48.6% 3 17 20 5,467 33 121 13 ap1981

1990 138,285 294,070 47.0% 2 9 11 12,571 15 110 13 ap1991

1999 178,995 350,971 51.0% 5 10 15 11,933 12 77 13 ap2000

2000 181,242 357,496 50.7% 3 11 14 12,945 13 81 13 ap2001

2001 182,322 364,645 50.0% 4 10 14 13,023 12 80 13 ap2002

2002 184,780 371,937 49.7% 7 10 17 10,869 12 67 13 ap2003

2003 187,830 378,767 49.6% 7 9 16 11,739 10 53 13 ap2004

2004 189,551 382,933 49.5% 7 9 16 11,846 10 73 13 ap2005

2010 194,500 395,000 49.2% 7 7 14 13,892 8 69 13 ap2011

2014 203,396 596,379 34.1% 11 4 15 13,559 5 95 13 ap2015

2017 274,000 608,000 45.1% 11 11 22 12,454 14 62 13 ap2018

2020 277,290 615,230 45.1% 12 12 23,107 1 65 13 ap2021

2022 279,120 619,330 45.1% 13 13 21,470 101 13 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1969	69,767	195,787	35.6%	1	23	24	2,906	44	147	12	ap1971
1980	109,349	225,000	48.6%	3	17	20	5,467	33	121	13	ap1981
1990	138,285	294,070	47.0%	2	9	11	12,571	15	110	13	ap1991
1999	178,995	350,971	51.0%	5	10	15	11,933	12	77	13	ap2000
2000	181,242	357,496	50.7%	3	11	14	12,945	13	81	13	ap2001
2001	182,322	364,645	50.0%	4	10	14	13,023	12	80	13	ap2002
2002	184,780	371,937	49.7%	7	10	17	10,869	12	67	13	ap2003
2003	187,830	378,767	49.6%	7	9	16	11,739	10	53	13	ap2004
2004	189,551	382,933	49.5%	7	9	16	11,846	10	73	13	ap2005
2010	194,500	395,000	49.2%	7	7	14	13,892	8	69	13	ap2011
2014	203,396	596,379	34.1%	11	4	15	13,559	5	95	13	ap2015
2017	274,000	608,000	45.1%	11	11	22	12,454	14	62	13	ap2018
2020	277,290	615,230	45.1%	12		12	23,107	1	65	13	ap2021
2022	279,120	619,330	45.1%	13		13	21,470		101	13	ap2023