De Aar (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Adam Leszek Musiałek, S.C.I., Bishop
Joseph James Potocnak, S.C.I., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 13 April 1967
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cape Town {Kaapstad}
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 67,249 (25,974 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.diocesedeaar.com/
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 73, 1 Van Riebeeck Str., De Aar 7000, South Africa
Telephone: (053)631.1149
Fax: (086)262.5032

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of De Aar
- Latin Name: De Aarensis
- Erected: 24 March 1953
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Aloysius Joseph Dettmer, S.C.I. † (24 Mar 1953 Appointed - 13 Apr 1967 Resigned)
Joseph Anthony De Palma, S.C.I. † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 18 Nov 1987 Retired)
Joseph James Potocnak, S.C.I. (23 Jan 1992 Appointed - 17 Jul 2009 Retired)
Adam Leszek Musiałek, S.C.I. (17 Jul 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of De Aar
24 March 1953	Erected	Diocese of Aliwal (De Aar, Hopetown, Hanover, Middelburg, Britstown, Philipstown, Richmond, and Oolesberg)	Prefecture Apostolic of De Aar (erected)
Diocese of De Aar
13 April 1967	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of De Aar	Diocese of De Aar

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 De Aar

1970 7,039 137,193 5.1% 2 11 13 541 12 17 9 ap1971

1980 4,156 148,000 2.8% 3 6 9 461 7 4 2 ap1981

1990 4,471 194,000 2.3% 4 5 9 496 6 4 7 ap1991

1999 4,957 187,957 2.6% 6 4 10 495 4 5 9 ap2000

2000 5,020 190,000 2.6% 3 4 7 717 4 3 9 ap2001

2001 5,050 190,000 2.7% 4 5 9 561 5 3 7 ap2002

2002 5,600 164,000 3.4% 4 4 8 700 4 5 7 ap2003

2003 5,700 164,000 3.5% 4 4 8 712 4 5 7 ap2004

2004 5,620 164,000 3.4% 6 4 10 562 4 6 7 ap2005

2006 5,782 166,000 3.5% 4 4 8 722 4 5 8 ap2007

2013 5,895 171,800 3.4% 4 5 9 655 1 5 3 17 ap2014

2016 5,930 184,000 3.2% 8 8 741 1 3 16 ap2017

2019 6,063 195,000 3.1% 5 1 6 1,010 1 1 3 14 ap2020

2021 6,089 207,089 2.9% 6 1 7 869 1 1 3 18 ap2022

2023 6,109 208,000 2.9% 5 1 6 1,018 1 1 3 18 ap2024

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 De Aar
1970	7,039	137,193	5.1%	2	11	13	541		12	17	9	ap1971
1980	4,156	148,000	2.8%	3	6	9	461		7	4	2	ap1981
1990	4,471	194,000	2.3%	4	5	9	496		6	4	7	ap1991
1999	4,957	187,957	2.6%	6	4	10	495		4	5	9	ap2000
2000	5,020	190,000	2.6%	3	4	7	717		4	3	9	ap2001
2001	5,050	190,000	2.7%	4	5	9	561		5	3	7	ap2002
2002	5,600	164,000	3.4%	4	4	8	700		4	5	7	ap2003
2003	5,700	164,000	3.5%	4	4	8	712		4	5	7	ap2004
2004	5,620	164,000	3.4%	6	4	10	562		4	6	7	ap2005
2006	5,782	166,000	3.5%	4	4	8	722		4	5	8	ap2007
2013	5,895	171,800	3.4%	4	5	9	655	1	5	3	17	ap2014
2016	5,930	184,000	3.2%	8		8	741	1		3	16	ap2017
2019	6,063	195,000	3.1%	5	1	6	1,010	1	1	3	14	ap2020
2021	6,089	207,089	2.9%	6	1	7	869	1	1	3	18	ap2022
2023	6,109	208,000	2.9%	5	1	6	1,018	1	1	3	18	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Adam Leszek Musiałek, S.C.I. (Bishop: 17 Jul 2009 - )
Joseph James Potocnak, S.C.I. (Bishop: 23 Jan 1992 to 17 Jul 2009)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Anthony De Palma, S.C.I. † (Bishop: 13 Apr 1967 to 18 Nov 1987)
Aloysius Joseph Dettmer, S.C.I. † (Prefect: 24 Mar 1953 to 13 Apr 1967)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of De Aar
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 533, and Page 534
Diocese of De Aar
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 1,034, and Page 1,035

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Diocese of De Aar

Dioecesis De Aarensis