Isiro-Niangara (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Dieudonné Madrapile Tanzi, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 23 March 1970
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kisangani
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 60,000 (23,175 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://isiro-niangara.blogspot.com/
Mailing Address: Eveche, Avenue de la Procure, Quartier Tely, Commune Kupa, Isiro, Province de Haut-Uele, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (081)4115.011

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
- Latin Name: de Uellé Orientali
- Erected: 18 December 1911
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
- Latin Name: de Uellé Orientali
- Elevated: 6 May 1924
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
- Latin Name: Niangaraensis
- Name Changed: 14 December 1926
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Diocese of Niangara
- Latin Name: Niangaraensis
- Elevated: 10 November 1959
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kisangani
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Reginal-Alois van Schoote, O.P. † (16 Jan 1912 Appointed - 28 Apr 1922 Resigned)
Emilio Rolin, O.P. † ( 1922 Appointed - 1924 Died)
Robert Constant Lagae, O.P. † (27 Nov 1924 Appointed - Feb 1948 Resigned)
François-Odon De Wilde, O.P. † (11 Mar 1948 Appointed - 19 Feb 1976 Died)
Ambroise Uma Arakayo Amabe † (19 Feb 1976 Succeeded - 1 Apr 1989 Died)
Emile Aiti Waro Leru’a † (25 Sep 1989 Appointed - 24 Mar 1994 Resigned)
Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (6 Dec 1995 Appointed - 13 Mar 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Bukavu)
Julien Andavo Bule Ahuba Mbia † (1 Feb 2003 Appointed - 14 Jul 2024 Died)
Dieudonné Madrapile Tanzi (23 Sep 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
18 December 1911	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
6 May 1924	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
10 March 1926	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental} (Boundaries Adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale} (Boundaries Adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
14 December 1926	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
3 April 1941	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara (Chefferie)	Vicariate Apostolic of Bondo
24 February 1958	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara	Prefecture Apostolic of Doruma (erected)
Diocese of Niangara
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara	Diocese of Niangara
26 September 1967	Territory Lost	Diocese of Niangara (Dungu)	Diocese of Doruma
Diocese of Isiro-Niangara
23 March 1970	Name Changed	Diocese of Niangara	Diocese of Isiro-Niangara

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 Niangara

1950 90,220 562,182 16.0% 5 58 63 1,432 7 77 ap1951

Diocese of Niangara

Diocese of Isiro-Niangara

1970 183,486 445,923 41.1% 14 45 59 3,109 60 92 17 ap1971

1980 300,070 514,764 58.3% 13 53 66 4,546 65 122 19 ap1981

1990 407,863 723,000 56.4% 36 42 78 5,229 63 133 20 ap1991

1999 526,197 728,119 72.3% 57 42 99 5,315 48 161 19 ap2000

2000 500,482 696,292 71.9% 76 30 106 4,721 37 155 19 ap2001

2001 518,875 705,233 73.6% 77 31 108 4,804 42 175 19 ap2002

2002 720,880 902,802 79.8% 61 27 88 8,191 35 173 20 ap2003

2003 525,102 830,333 63.2% 62 29 91 5,770 38 164 19 ap2004

2004 997,620 1,415,730 70.5% 68 31 99 10,076 46 185 21 ap2005

2006 1,038,778 1,475,128 70.4% 64 31 95 10,934 52 174 20 ap2007

2013 1,276,104 1,631,412 78.2% 77 34 111 11,496 45 183 23 ap2014

2016 996,465 1,638,782 60.8% 83 21 104 9,581 31 195 23 ap2017

2019 1,089,000 1,790,000 60.8% 88 30 118 9,228 38 185 23 ap2020

2021 958,255 1,421,726 67.4% 88 31 119 8,052 52 196 24 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
1950	90,220	562,182	16.0%	5	58	63	1,432	7	77		ap1951
Diocese of Niangara
Diocese of Isiro-Niangara
1970	183,486	445,923	41.1%	14	45	59	3,109	60	92	17	ap1971
1980	300,070	514,764	58.3%	13	53	66	4,546	65	122	19	ap1981
1990	407,863	723,000	56.4%	36	42	78	5,229	63	133	20	ap1991
1999	526,197	728,119	72.3%	57	42	99	5,315	48	161	19	ap2000
2000	500,482	696,292	71.9%	76	30	106	4,721	37	155	19	ap2001
2001	518,875	705,233	73.6%	77	31	108	4,804	42	175	19	ap2002
2002	720,880	902,802	79.8%	61	27	88	8,191	35	173	20	ap2003
2003	525,102	830,333	63.2%	62	29	91	5,770	38	164	19	ap2004
2004	997,620	1,415,730	70.5%	68	31	99	10,076	46	185	21	ap2005
2006	1,038,778	1,475,128	70.4%	64	31	95	10,934	52	174	20	ap2007
2013	1,276,104	1,631,412	78.2%	77	34	111	11,496	45	183	23	ap2014
2016	996,465	1,638,782	60.8%	83	21	104	9,581	31	195	23	ap2017
2019	1,089,000	1,790,000	60.8%	88	30	118	9,228	38	185	23	ap2020
2021	958,255	1,421,726	67.4%	88	31	119	8,052	52	196	24	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Emile Aiti Waro Leru’a † (Bishop: 25 Sep 1989 to 24 Mar 1994)
Julien Andavo Bule Ahuba Mbia † (Priest: 26 Aug 1979; Bishop: 1 Feb 2003 to 14 Jul 2024)
Ambroise Uma Arakayo Amabe † (Coadjutor Bishop: 6 May 1972; Bishop: 19 Feb 1976 to 1 Apr 1989)
François-Odon De Wilde, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1948; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 19 Feb 1976)
Robert Constant Lagae, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Nov 1924 to Feb 1948)
Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (Bishop: 6 Dec 1995 to 13 Mar 2001)
Emilio Rolin, O.P. † (Prefect: 1922 to 1924)
Reginal-Alois van Schoote, O.P. † (Prefect: 16 Jan 1912 to 28 Apr 1922)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 4, Page 55
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 16, Page 270, and Page 271
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 370, and Page 371
Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 130
Diocese of Niangara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377
Diocese of Isiro-Niangara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 62, Page 234

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

✠

Diocese of Isiro-Niangara

Dioecesis Isirensis-Niangaraensis