Gaborone (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D., Bishop
Valentine Tsamma Seane, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 7 April 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Botswana
Square Kilometers: 174,821 (67,524 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.gaboronediocese.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 218, Plot 162 Queens Rd., Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone: 71.554.027
Fax: 395.69.70

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland
- Erected: 2 April 1959
- Country: Botswana
Diocese of Gaberones
- Latin Name: Gaberonesensis
- Elevated: 5 August 1966
- Country: Botswana

Past and Present Ordinaries

Urban Charles Joseph Murphy, C.P. † (24 Apr 1959 Appointed - 28 Feb 1981 Died)
Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi † (30 Nov 1981 Appointed - 5 Feb 2009 Retired)
Valentine Tsamma Seane (5 Feb 2009 Appointed - 9 Aug 2017 Resigned)
Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (6 Jun 2019 Appointed - )
Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (5 Jul 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland
2 April 1959	Erected	Diocese of Bulawayo Diocese of Kimberley (Lobatse, Gaborone, Molepolole, along with part of Serowe and Tsabong) Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland (erected)
Diocese of Gaberones
5 August 1966	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland	Diocese of Gaberones
Diocese of Gaborone
7 April 1970	Name Changed	Diocese of Gaberones	Diocese of Gaborone
27 June 1998	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gaborone (Central, Chobe, Gantsi, Ngamiland, and North-East)	Vicariate Apostolic of Francistown (erected)
5 June 2007	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Gaborone (from Bloemfontein)

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 Gaborone

1970 16,879 611,000 2.8% 2 22 24 703 24 26 ap1971

1978 29,199 793,000 3.7% 3 21 24 1,216 23 53 ap1981

1990 45,826 1,100,000 4.2% 3 23 26 1,762 1 34 51 26 ap1991

1999 59,325 700,000 8.5% 4 21 25 2,373 1 23 27 17 ap2000

2000 60,134 703,000 8.6% 4 20 24 2,505 1 22 32 17 ap2001

2001 60,893 719,000 8.5% 6 21 27 2,255 1 23 46 18 ap2002

2002 61,675 875,900 7.0% 10 20 30 2,055 1 23 50 18 ap2003

2003 62,497 957,100 6.5% 7 23 30 2,083 1 25 39 17 ap2004

2004 63,257 904,900 7.0% 6 25 31 2,040 1 27 44 18 ap2005

2006 63,926 1,003,645 6.4% 11 20 31 2,062 5 22 53 20 ap2007

2013 85,700 1,231,000 7.0% 15 32 47 1,823 4 33 56 23 ap2014

2016 90,238 1,105,965 8.2% 13 31 44 2,050 4 33 48 25 ap2017

2019 90,000 1,263,000 7.1% 21 25 46 1,956 3 26 56 27 ap2020

2021 85,127 1,304,275 6.5% 17 25 42 2,026 4 28 49 27 ap2022

2023 87,000 1,353,000 6.4% 24 25 49 1,775 3 28 49 27 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 Gaborone
1970	16,879	611,000	2.8%	2	22	24	703		24	26		ap1971
1978	29,199	793,000	3.7%	3	21	24	1,216		23	53		ap1981
1990	45,826	1,100,000	4.2%	3	23	26	1,762	1	34	51	26	ap1991
1999	59,325	700,000	8.5%	4	21	25	2,373	1	23	27	17	ap2000
2000	60,134	703,000	8.6%	4	20	24	2,505	1	22	32	17	ap2001
2001	60,893	719,000	8.5%	6	21	27	2,255	1	23	46	18	ap2002
2002	61,675	875,900	7.0%	10	20	30	2,055	1	23	50	18	ap2003
2003	62,497	957,100	6.5%	7	23	30	2,083	1	25	39	17	ap2004
2004	63,257	904,900	7.0%	6	25	31	2,040	1	27	44	18	ap2005
2006	63,926	1,003,645	6.4%	11	20	31	2,062	5	22	53	20	ap2007
2013	85,700	1,231,000	7.0%	15	32	47	1,823	4	33	56	23	ap2014
2016	90,238	1,105,965	8.2%	13	31	44	2,050	4	33	48	25	ap2017
2019	90,000	1,263,000	7.1%	21	25	46	1,956	3	26	56	27	ap2020
2021	85,127	1,304,275	6.5%	17	25	42	2,026	4	28	49	27	ap2022
2023	87,000	1,353,000	6.4%	24	25	49	1,775	3	28	49	27	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. (Apostolic Administrator: 9 Aug 2017; Bishop: 6 Jun 2019 - ; Archbishop (Personal Title): 5 Jul 2021)
Valentine Tsamma Seane (Priest: 23 Jan 2006; Bishop: 5 Feb 2009 to 9 Aug 2017)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Urban Charles Joseph Murphy, C.P. † (Prefect: 24 Apr 1959; Bishop: 5 Aug 1966 to 28 Feb 1981)
Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi † (Priest: 22 Jul 1963; Bishop: 30 Nov 1981 to 5 Feb 2009)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 785, and Page 786
Diocese of Gaberones
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 207, and Page 208

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Diocese of Gaborone

Dioecesis Gaboronensis