Blantyre (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Thomas Luke Msusa, S.M.M., Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 25 April 1959
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Malawi
Square Kilometers: 9,166 (3,540 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 385, Blantyre, Malawi
Telephone: 995.610.933

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré
- Latin Name: Shirensis
- Erected: 3 December 1903
- Country: Malawi
Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré
- Latin Name: Shirensis
- Elevated: 14 April 1908
- Vicariate
- Country: Malawi
Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
- Latin Name: Blantyrensis
- Name Changed: 15 May 1952
- Vicariate
- Country: Malawi

Past and Present Ordinaries

Auguste Prézeau, S.M.M. † (3 Dec 1903 Appointed - 2 Dec 1909 Died)
Louis-Joseph-Marie Auneau, S.M.M. † (9 May 1910 Appointed - 25 Dec 1949 Retired)
John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M. † (25 Dec 1949 Appointed - 14 Oct 1967 Resigned)
James Chiona † (29 Nov 1967 Appointed - 23 Jan 2001 Retired)
Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye † (23 Jan 2001 Appointed - 3 Jul 2013 Appointed, Archbishop of Lilongwe)
Thomas Luke Msusa, S.M.M. (21 Nov 2013 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré
3 December 1903	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa	Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré
14 April 1908	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré
15 May 1952	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré (Zomba, Liwonde, Southern Nyassa (Fort Johnston), and Ncheu)	Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
15 May 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré	Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
Archdiocese of Blantyre
25 April 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre	Archdiocese of Blantyre
22 March 1965	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Blantyre (Chikwawa and Port Herald)	Diocese of Chikwawa (erected)
20 June 1966	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Blantyre (Southern part of Cholo)	Diocese of Chikwawa

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 Shiré

1950 208,783 1,120,000 18.6% 20 69 89 2,345 6 102 19 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre

Archdiocese of Blantyre

1970 300,807 965,960 31.1% 25 47 72 4,177 83 151 33 ap1971

1980 414,000 1,418,000 29.2% 32 42 74 5,594 75 178 40 ap1981

1990 562,512 2,356,000 23.9% 47 78 125 4,500 111 171 44 ap1991

1999 744,965 3,900,000 19.1% 68 19 87 8,562 64 169 46 ap2000

2000 741,268 4,002,000 18.5% 67 19 86 8,619 66 172 45 ap2001

2001 752,391 4,000,000 18.8% 67 17 84 8,957 62 142 46 ap2002

2002 762,139 4,000,000 19.1% 64 85 149 5,115 122 150 48 ap2003

2003 791,622 4,072,000 19.4% 66 17 83 9,537 37 156 46 ap2004

2004 972,488 4,145,000 23.5% 62 18 80 12,156 67 339 38 ap2005

2006 1,008,160 4,370,000 23.1% 57 19 76 13,265 82 211 37 ap2007

2012 1,539,209 5,166,000 29.8% 78 15 93 16,550 43 341 37 ap2013

2015 1,529,603 3,205,000 47.7% 70 19 89 17,186 50 345 40 ap2016

2018 1,721,490 3,554,435 48.4% 73 18 91 18,917 47 409 41 ap2019

2020 1,828,220 3,774,780 48.4% 83 110 193 9,472 136 349 43 ap2021

2022 3,124,337 4,899,786 63.8% 84 116 200 15,621 143 374 43 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 Shiré
1950	208,783	1,120,000	18.6%	20	69	89	2,345	6	102	19	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
Archdiocese of Blantyre
1970	300,807	965,960	31.1%	25	47	72	4,177	83	151	33	ap1971
1980	414,000	1,418,000	29.2%	32	42	74	5,594	75	178	40	ap1981
1990	562,512	2,356,000	23.9%	47	78	125	4,500	111	171	44	ap1991
1999	744,965	3,900,000	19.1%	68	19	87	8,562	64	169	46	ap2000
2000	741,268	4,002,000	18.5%	67	19	86	8,619	66	172	45	ap2001
2001	752,391	4,000,000	18.8%	67	17	84	8,957	62	142	46	ap2002
2002	762,139	4,000,000	19.1%	64	85	149	5,115	122	150	48	ap2003
2003	791,622	4,072,000	19.4%	66	17	83	9,537	37	156	46	ap2004
2004	972,488	4,145,000	23.5%	62	18	80	12,156	67	339	38	ap2005
2006	1,008,160	4,370,000	23.1%	57	19	76	13,265	82	211	37	ap2007
2012	1,539,209	5,166,000	29.8%	78	15	93	16,550	43	341	37	ap2013
2015	1,529,603	3,205,000	47.7%	70	19	89	17,186	50	345	40	ap2016
2018	1,721,490	3,554,435	48.4%	73	18	91	18,917	47	409	41	ap2019
2020	1,828,220	3,774,780	48.4%	83	110	193	9,472	136	349	43	ap2021
2022	3,124,337	4,899,786	63.8%	84	116	200	15,621	143	374	43	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Louis-Joseph-Marie Auneau, S.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 May 1910 to 25 Dec 1949)
James Chiona † (Priest: 12 Sep 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jan 1965; Archbishop: 29 Nov 1967 to 23 Jan 2001)
Auguste Prézeau, S.M.M. † (Prefect: 3 Dec 1903; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Apr 1908 to 2 Dec 1909)
John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Dec 1949; Archbishop: 25 Apr 1959 to 14 Oct 1967)
Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye † (Archbishop: 23 Jan 2001 to 3 Jul 2013)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 44, Page 748
Archdiocese of Blantyre
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 793, to Page 796

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Archdiocese of Blantyre

Archidioecesis Blantyrensis