Bethlehem (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Jan de Groef, M. Afr., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 34,965 (13,505 Square Miles)
Description: Bethlehem, Clocolan, Ficksburg, Fouriesburg, Frankfort, Harrismith, Lindley, Reitz, Senekal, Vrede, Phuthaditjhaba (Qwaqwa), and part of Ladybrand
Official Web Site: https://dioceseofbethlehem.org.za
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 366, 218 Cambridge St., Bethlehem 9700, O.F.S., South Africa
Telephone: (058)303.53.51
Fax: 303.53.52

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem
- Latin Name: Bethlehemensis
- Erected: 12 February 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
- Square Kilometers: 34,000 (13,132 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Léon Klerlein, C.S.Sp. † (12 Feb 1948 Appointed - 9 Dec 1948 Resigned)
Peter Kelleter, C.S.Sp. † (12 Mar 1950 Appointed - 5 Jul 1975 Resigned)
Hubert Bucher † (9 Dec 1976 Appointed - 31 Dec 2008 Retired)
Jan de Groef, M. Afr. (31 Dec 2008 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem
12 February 1948	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Kroonstad (Bethlehem, Harrismith, Vrede, Frankfort, Reitz, Lindley, Senekal, Fouriesburg, Ficksburg, Clocolan, and part of Ladybrand)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem (erected)
Diocese of Bethlehem
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem	Diocese of Bethlehem

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 Bethlehem

1950 10,141 260,000 3.9% 3 232 235 43 2 ap1951

Diocese of Bethlehem

1957 15,773 347,000 4.5% 27 27 584 30 30 5 ap1960

1970 33,860 430,800 7.9% 28 28 1,209 33 35 ap1971

1980 62,712 491,000 12.8% 1 19 20 3,135 22 31 13 ap1981

1990 59,775 617,000 9.7% 6 17 23 2,598 4 21 49 25 ap1991

1999 67,858 780,000 8.7% 7 18 25 2,714 5 18 76 36 ap2000

2000 77,254 790,000 9.8% 7 15 22 3,511 5 15 68 12 ap2001

2001 71,303 843,000 8.5% 10 16 26 2,742 5 16 75 14 ap2002

2002 71,912 895,792 8.0% 12 12 24 2,996 5 12 65 14 ap2003

2003 73,371 915,650 8.0% 12 14 26 2,821 5 14 72 14 ap2004

2004 75,566 935,912 8.1% 13 11 24 3,148 5 11 65 14 ap2005

2006 77,600 946,000 8.2% 16 8 24 3,233 5 10 62 14 ap2007

2012 77,000 1,003,000 7.7% 19 9 28 2,750 5 14 50 12 ap2013

2015 79,800 1,039,000 7.7% 17 4 21 3,800 4 9 44 13 ap2016

2018 80,880 1,051,340 7.7% 17 4 21 3,851 1 4 40 13 ap2019

2020 66,000 862,613 7.7% 18 4 22 3,000 4 4 36 13 ap2021

2022 59,398 821,577 7.2% 17 1 18 3,299 2 1 33 13 ap2023

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 Bethlehem
1950	10,141	260,000	3.9%	3	232	235	43				2	ap1951
Diocese of Bethlehem
1957	15,773	347,000	4.5%		27	27	584		30	30	5	ap1960
1970	33,860	430,800	7.9%		28	28	1,209		33	35		ap1971
1980	62,712	491,000	12.8%	1	19	20	3,135		22	31	13	ap1981
1990	59,775	617,000	9.7%	6	17	23	2,598	4	21	49	25	ap1991
1999	67,858	780,000	8.7%	7	18	25	2,714	5	18	76	36	ap2000
2000	77,254	790,000	9.8%	7	15	22	3,511	5	15	68	12	ap2001
2001	71,303	843,000	8.5%	10	16	26	2,742	5	16	75	14	ap2002
2002	71,912	895,792	8.0%	12	12	24	2,996	5	12	65	14	ap2003
2003	73,371	915,650	8.0%	12	14	26	2,821	5	14	72	14	ap2004
2004	75,566	935,912	8.1%	13	11	24	3,148	5	11	65	14	ap2005
2006	77,600	946,000	8.2%	16	8	24	3,233	5	10	62	14	ap2007
2012	77,000	1,003,000	7.7%	19	9	28	2,750	5	14	50	12	ap2013
2015	79,800	1,039,000	7.7%	17	4	21	3,800	4	9	44	13	ap2016
2018	80,880	1,051,340	7.7%	17	4	21	3,851	1	4	40	13	ap2019
2020	66,000	862,613	7.7%	18	4	22	3,000	4	4	36	13	ap2021
2022	59,398	821,577	7.2%	17	1	18	3,299	2	1	33	13	ap2023

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

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 360, to Page 362
Diocese of Bethlehem
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

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Diocese of Bethlehem

Dioecesis Bethlehemensis

Bishop(s)

General Information

Historical Details

Past and Present Ordinaries

Historical Summary

Statistics

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Source(s)