Francistown (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Gabriel Lionel Afagbegee, S.V.D., Apostolic Administrator

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 2 October 2017
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Botswana
Square Kilometers: 472,995 (182,694 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://dioceseoffrancistown.com/
Mailing Address: Catholic Secretariat, St. Francis House, P.O. Box 702, Tsie Road 14061 Area W, Francistown, Botswana
Telephone: 2413.601
Fax: 2417.183

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown
- Latin Name: Francistaunensis
- Erected: 27 June 1998
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
- Country: Botswana

Past and Present Ordinaries

Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (27 Jun 1998 Appointed - 6 Jun 2019 Appointed, Bishop of Gaborone)
Anthony Pascal Rebello, S.V.D. † (5 Jul 2021 Appointed - 4 May 2024 Died)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown
27 June 1998	Erected	Diocese of Gaborone (Central, Chobe, Gantsi, Ngamiland, and North-East)	Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown (erected)
5 June 2007	Metropolitan Changed		Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown (from Bloemfontein)
Diocese of Francistown
2 October 2017	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown	Diocese of Francistown

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 Francistown

1999 17,262 704,780 2.4% 1 14 15 1,150 20 19 9 ap2000

2000 17,506 703,802 2.5% 3 14 17 1,029 23 22 10 ap2001

2001 17,294 701,507 2.5% 3 16 19 910 19 23 10 ap2002

2002 17,544 705,774 2.5% 8 12 20 877 15 23 13 ap2003

2003 17,896 801,729 2.2% 8 14 22 813 16 23 15 ap2004

2004 20,316 831,204 2.4% 10 15 25 812 17 28 15 ap2005

2010 19,094 847,000 2.3% 13 18 31 615 22 28 17 ap2011

2014 16,456 920,631 1.8% 11 12 23 715 16 28 17 ap2015

Diocese of Francistown

2017 25,600 1,199,000 2.1% 10 12 22 1,163 13 25 17 ap2018

2019 26,500 1,240,280 2.1% 12 13 25 1,060 14 25 17 ap2020

2021 30,600 1,282,730 2.4% 13 16 29 1,055 16 32 17 ap2022

2023 31,100 1,306,000 2.4% 13 16 29 1,072 16 32 17 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown
1999	17,262	704,780	2.4%	1	14	15	1,150	20	19	9	ap2000
2000	17,506	703,802	2.5%	3	14	17	1,029	23	22	10	ap2001
2001	17,294	701,507	2.5%	3	16	19	910	19	23	10	ap2002
2002	17,544	705,774	2.5%	8	12	20	877	15	23	13	ap2003
2003	17,896	801,729	2.2%	8	14	22	813	16	23	15	ap2004
2004	20,316	831,204	2.4%	10	15	25	812	17	28	15	ap2005
2010	19,094	847,000	2.3%	13	18	31	615	22	28	17	ap2011
2014	16,456	920,631	1.8%	11	12	23	715	16	28	17	ap2015
Diocese of Francistown
2017	25,600	1,199,000	2.1%	10	12	22	1,163	13	25	17	ap2018
2019	26,500	1,240,280	2.1%	12	13	25	1,060	14	25	17	ap2020
2021	30,600	1,282,730	2.4%	13	16	29	1,055	16	32	17	ap2022
2023	31,100	1,306,000	2.4%	13	16	29	1,072	16	32	17	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Gabriel Lionel Afagbegee, S.V.D. (Apostolic Administrator: 22 May 2024)
Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jun 1998; Bishop: 2 Oct 2017 to 6 Jun 2019)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Anthony Pascal Rebello, S.V.D. † (Bishop: 5 Jul 2021 to 4 May 2024)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 90, Page 830, and Page 831
Diocese of Francistown
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 110, Page 179, and Page 180

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024
Code: web_d, v3.4.9, 15 Sep 2024; Data: 8 Oct 2024

✠

Diocese of Francistown

Dioecesis Francistaunensis