Iringa (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 25 March 1953
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mbeya
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 32,202 (12,438 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://dioceseofiringa.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's Residence, P.O. Box 133, Iringa, Tanzania
Telephone: (026)2702.772; 2700.635
Fax: 2700.650

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa
- Latin Name: de Iringa
- Erected: 3 March 1922
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Iringa
- Latin Name: Iringaensis
- Elevated: 8 January 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Francesco Alessandro Cagliero, I.M.C. † (10 May 1922 Appointed - 22 Oct 1935 Died)
Attilio Beltramino, I.M.C. † (18 Feb 1936 Appointed - 3 Oct 1965 Died)
Mario Epifanio Abdallah Mgulunde † (23 Oct 1969 Appointed - 9 Mar 1985 Appointed, Archbishop of Tabora)
Norbert Wendelin Mtega (28 Oct 1985 Appointed - 6 Jul 1992 Appointed, Archbishop of Songea)
Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa (21 Nov 1992 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa
3 March 1922	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam (Ugogo and Uhehe)	Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa (erected)
22 December 1931	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa (Lulanga and Masagati)	Vicariate Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam
28 January 1935	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bagamoyo Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa Vicariate Apostolic of Kilima-Njaro	Prefecture Apostolic of Dodoma (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Iringa
8 January 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa	Vicariate Apostolic of Iringa
Diocese of Iringa
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Iringa	Diocese of Iringa
16 February 1968	Territory Lost	Diocese of Iringa Territorial Abbey of Peramiho	Diocese of Njombe (erected) (Njombe District)
18 November 1987	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Iringa (from Dar-es-Salaam)
21 December 2018	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Iringa (from Songea to Mbeya)
22 December 2023	Territory Lost	Diocese of Iringa	Diocese of Mafinga (erected)

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 Iringa

1950 27,443 400,000 6.9% 2 40 42 653 77 19 ap1951

Diocese of Iringa

1969 174,581 422,574 41.3% 16 47 63 2,771 89 229 28 ap1971

1980 225,387 658,000 34.3% 20 36 56 4,024 93 288 28 ap1981

1990 367,132 771,000 47.6% 32 49 81 4,532 1 119 352 30 ap1991

1999 518,372 2,171,241 23.9% 53 48 101 5,132 1 134 485 32 ap2000

2000 534,271 2,214,666 24.1% 58 52 110 4,857 1 141 518 33 ap2001

2001 550,324 2,258,959 24.4% 54 48 102 5,395 1 148 518 33 ap2002

2002 555,227 2,281,548 24.3% 60 47 107 5,189 1 148 513 33 ap2003

2003 568,349 2,305,373 24.7% 57 45 102 5,572 1 155 502 33 ap2004

2004 574,032 2,309,983 24.9% 53 52 105 5,466 1 167 527 33 ap2005

2006 588,439 2,367,962 24.9% 53 39 92 6,396 1 206 549 33 ap2007

2013 650,461 2,524,245 25.8% 69 33 102 6,377 1 262 636 37 ap2014

2016 683,248 2,547,022 26.8% 69 28 97 7,043 1 344 626 38 ap2017

2019 711,549 2,570,007 27.7% 86 29 115 6,187 1 361 707 39 ap2020

2021 736,120 2,588,022 28.4% 70 34 104 7,078 1 409 750 42 ap2022

2023 530,094 2,172,101 24.4% 81 18 99 5,354 155 599 28 bul:22Dec2023

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 Iringa
1950	27,443	400,000	6.9%	2	40	42	653			77	19	ap1951
Diocese of Iringa
1969	174,581	422,574	41.3%	16	47	63	2,771		89	229	28	ap1971
1980	225,387	658,000	34.3%	20	36	56	4,024		93	288	28	ap1981
1990	367,132	771,000	47.6%	32	49	81	4,532	1	119	352	30	ap1991
1999	518,372	2,171,241	23.9%	53	48	101	5,132	1	134	485	32	ap2000
2000	534,271	2,214,666	24.1%	58	52	110	4,857	1	141	518	33	ap2001
2001	550,324	2,258,959	24.4%	54	48	102	5,395	1	148	518	33	ap2002
2002	555,227	2,281,548	24.3%	60	47	107	5,189	1	148	513	33	ap2003
2003	568,349	2,305,373	24.7%	57	45	102	5,572	1	155	502	33	ap2004
2004	574,032	2,309,983	24.9%	53	52	105	5,466	1	167	527	33	ap2005
2006	588,439	2,367,962	24.9%	53	39	92	6,396	1	206	549	33	ap2007
2013	650,461	2,524,245	25.8%	69	33	102	6,377	1	262	636	37	ap2014
2016	683,248	2,547,022	26.8%	69	28	97	7,043	1	344	626	38	ap2017
2019	711,549	2,570,007	27.7%	86	29	115	6,187	1	361	707	39	ap2020
2021	736,120	2,588,022	28.4%	70	34	104	7,078	1	409	750	42	ap2022
2023	530,094	2,172,101	24.4%	81	18	99	5,354		155	599	28	bul:22Dec2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Damian Denis Dallu
Norbert Wendelin Mtega (Bishop: 28 Oct 1985 to 6 Jul 1992)
Vincent Cosmas Mwagala (Priest: 11 Jul 2007 to 22 Dec 2023)
Tarcisius Ngalalekumtwa (Priest: 17 Apr 1973 to 14 Nov 1988; Bishop: 21 Nov 1992)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Attilio Beltramino, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 18 Feb 1936; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jan 1948; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 3 Oct 1965)
Francesco Alessandro Cagliero, I.M.C. † (Prefect: 10 May 1922 to 22 Oct 1935)
Mario Epifanio Abdallah Mgulunde † (Priest: 8 Apr 1962; Bishop: 23 Oct 1969 to 9 Mar 1985)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Iringa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 14, Page 221, and Page 222
Vicariate Apostolic of Iringa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 306, and Page 307
Diocese of Iringa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 79, Page 1,436, and Page 1,437
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 111, Page 258, and Page 259

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Diocese of Iringa

Dioecesis Iringaensis