Bata (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, S.D.B., Apostolic Administrator
Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 3 May 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Malabo
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Equatorial Guinea
Square Kilometers: 6,681 (2,580 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Obispado, Apdo 82, Bata, Litoral, Guinea Ecuatorial

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Río Muni
- Latin Name: Rivi Muniensis
- Erected: 9 August 1965
- Vicariate
- Country: Equatorial Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. † (9 Aug 1965 Appointed - 9 May 1974 Resigned)
Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. † (26 Jun 1980 Appointed - 21 Oct 1982 Appointed, Archbishop of Malabo)
Anacleto Sima Ngua † (19 Nov 1982 Appointed - 11 May 2002 Resigned)
Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F. (11 May 2002 Appointed - 10 Dec 2024 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Río Muni
9 August 1965	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Fernando Poo (Rio Muni and the Islands of: Coriseo, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico)	Vicariate Apostolic of Río Muni (erected)
Diocese of Bata
3 May 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Río Muni	Diocese of Bata
15 October 1982	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bata	Diocese of Ebebiyin (erected)
15 October 1982	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Bata (from Immediately Subject)
18 November 1983	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bata (Nkuefulan and Akonibe)	Diocese of Ebebiyin
1 April 2017	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bata (Centro Sur)	Diocese of Evinayong (erected)

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

Diocese of Bata

1970 170,000 185,000 91.9% 13 18 31 5,483 18 41 ap1971

1980 170,700 185,000 92.3% 10 15 25 6,828 28 95 15 ap1981

1990 125,000 131,241 95.2% 19 17 36 3,472 1 35 59 15 ap1991

1996 140,282 140,547 99.8% 27 23 50 2,805 1 38 91 14 ap2001

2001 136,642 136,822 99.9% 24 23 47 2,907 1 41 64 26 ap2002

2002 136,642 136,822 99.9% 38 23 61 2,240 2 56 64 30 ap2004

2004 136,642 136,822 99.9% 37 24 61 2,240 2 62 89 27 ap2005

2006 141,000 142,000 99.3% 41 24 65 2,169 2 61 86 26 ap2007

2012 116,500 167,000 69.8% 47 26 73 1,595 1 49 59 28 ap2013

2015 126,200 181,500 69.5% 53 26 79 1,597 61 75 31 ap2016

2017 76,200 109,910 69.3% 38 18 56 1,360 61 44 18 bul:1Apr2017

2018 78,500 113,230 69.3% 54 21 75 1,046 1 48 44 27 ap2019

2020 84,200 121,500 69.3% 56 21 77 1,093 1 50 44 27 ap2021

2022 78,900 114,000 69.2% 52 22 74 1,066 1 49 46 26 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Bata
1970	170,000	185,000	91.9%	13	18	31	5,483		18	41		ap1971
1980	170,700	185,000	92.3%	10	15	25	6,828		28	95	15	ap1981
1990	125,000	131,241	95.2%	19	17	36	3,472	1	35	59	15	ap1991
1996	140,282	140,547	99.8%	27	23	50	2,805	1	38	91	14	ap2001
2001	136,642	136,822	99.9%	24	23	47	2,907	1	41	64	26	ap2002
2002	136,642	136,822	99.9%	38	23	61	2,240	2	56	64	30	ap2004
2004	136,642	136,822	99.9%	37	24	61	2,240	2	62	89	27	ap2005
2006	141,000	142,000	99.3%	41	24	65	2,169	2	61	86	26	ap2007
2012	116,500	167,000	69.8%	47	26	73	1,595	1	49	59	28	ap2013
2015	126,200	181,500	69.5%	53	26	79	1,597		61	75	31	ap2016
2017	76,200	109,910	69.3%	38	18	56	1,360		61	44	18	bul:1Apr2017
2018	78,500	113,230	69.3%	54	21	75	1,046	1	48	44	27	ap2019
2020	84,200	121,500	69.3%	56	21	77	1,093	1	50	44	27	ap2021
2022	78,900	114,000	69.2%	52	22	74	1,066	1	49	46	26	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Calixto Paulino Esono Abaga Obono (Priest: 22 Dec 2000 to 1 Apr 2017)
Juan Domingo-Beka Esono Ayang, C.M.F.
Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F. (Bishop: 11 May 2002 to 10 Dec 2024)
Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, S.D.B. (Apostolic Administrator: 10 Dec 2024)
Ildefonso Obama Obono (Apostolic Administrator: 4 May 1971 to 1975)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Vicente Bernikon † (Apostolic Administrator: 1975 to 14 Sep 1976)
Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Aug 1965; Bishop: 3 May 1966 to 9 May 1974)
Anacleto Sima Ngua † (Priest: 24 Jun 1963; Bishop: 19 Nov 1982 to 11 May 2002)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Río Muni
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 421, and Page 422
Diocese of Bata
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 867, and Page 868
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 75, Page 10, and Page 11

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Diocese of Bata

Dioecesis Bataensis