Johannesburg (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Stephen Brislin, Cardinal, Archbishop
Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 5 June 2007
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 14,517 (5,607 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.catholicjhb.org.za/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, 186 Nugget Street, Berea 2198; P.M.B. x10, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
Telephone: (011)402-6400
Fax: 402-6406

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Transvaal
- Erected: 4 June 1886
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal
- Latin Name: Transvaallensis
- Elevated: 16 September 1904
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Johannesburg
- Latin Name: Ioannesburgensis
- Name Changed: 9 April 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Diocese of Johannesburg
- Latin Name: Ioannesburgensis
- Elevated: 11 January 1951
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

William Miller, O.M.I. † (17 Sep 1904 Appointed - 2 May 1912 Resigned)
Charles Cox, O.M.I. † (15 Jul 1914 Appointed - 14 Jul 1924 Retired)
David O’Leary, O.M.I. † (13 May 1925 Appointed - 25 Nov 1950 Resigned)
William Patrick Whelan, O.M.I. † (25 Nov 1950 Succeeded - 18 Jul 1954 Appointed, Archbishop of Bloemfontein)
Hugh Boyle † (18 Jul 1954 Appointed - 24 Jan 1976 Retired)
Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald, O.M.I. † (24 Jan 1976 Appointed - 2 Jul 1984 Resigned)
Reginald Joseph Orsmond † (2 Jul 1984 Appointed - 19 May 2002 Died)
Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I. (8 Apr 2003 Appointed - 28 Oct 2024 Retired)
Stephen Brislin (28 Oct 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Transvaal
4 June 1886	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Natal	Prefecture Apostolic of Transvaal (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal
16 September 1904	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Transvaal	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal
22 December 1910	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Zoutpansberg and Waterberg)	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Transvaal {Transvaal Settentrionale} (erected)
12 June 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga))	Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg (erected) (Lydenburg, Barbeton, Carolina, Middelburg, Béthal, Ermelo, Piet Retief, WaMerstroom, and Standerton)
30 March 1930	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Marico and Rustemburg)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale}
9 April 1948	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale} (Rustemburg and Marico) Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Pretoria and Erits)	Vicariate Apostolic of Pretoria (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Johannesburg
9 April 1948	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal	Vicariate Apostolic of Johannesburg
Diocese of Johannesburg
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Johannesburg	Diocese of Johannesburg
14 October 1965	Territory Lost	Diocese of Johannesburg (Bloemhof, Cristiana, Coligny, Delareyville, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom, Schwaizer Reneke, Ventersdorp, and Wolmaransstad)	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Transvaal (erected)
Archdiocese of Johannesburg
5 June 2007	Elevated	Diocese of Johannesburg	Archdiocese of Johannesburg

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 Johannesburg

1950 90,459 2,024,888 4.5% 9 87 96 942 47 655 ap1951

Diocese of Johannesburg

1970 263,812 3,500,000 7.5% 30 140 170 1,551 212 749 40 ap1971

1980 336,682 3,383,000 10.0% 32 149 181 1,860 1 221 663 100 ap1981

1990 589,000 4,416,000 13.3% 34 126 160 3,681 18 176 565 100 ap1991

1999 700,000 6,000,000 11.7% 47 112 159 4,402 43 158 438 104 ap2000

2000 700,000 6,000,000 11.7% 47 114 161 4,347 41 160 446 104 ap2001

2001 700,000 6,000,000 11.7% 48 116 164 4,268 39 166 447 104 ap2002

2002 700,000 6,000,000 11.7% 46 116 162 4,320 44 167 438 104 ap2003

2003 700,000 6,000,000 11.7% 46 114 160 4,375 44 165 438 104 ap2004

2004 700,000 6,000,000 11.7% 49 118 167 4,191 43 173 445 104 ap2005

2006 704,000 6,036,000 11.7% 49 120 169 4,165 43 176 437 104 ap2007

Archdiocese of Johannesburg

2013 918,456 7,672,000 12.0% 44 137 181 5,074 50 173 353 128 ap2014

2016 1,036,000 8,009,000 12.9% 41 131 172 6,023 48 163 333 131 ap2017

2019 1,081,000 8,357,555 12.9% 52 132 184 5,875 69 172 318 132 ap2020

2021 1,112,360 8,690,460 12.8% 51 127 178 6,249 60 165 310 132 ap2022

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 Johannesburg
1950	90,459	2,024,888	4.5%	9	87	96	942		47	655		ap1951
Diocese of Johannesburg
1970	263,812	3,500,000	7.5%	30	140	170	1,551		212	749	40	ap1971
1980	336,682	3,383,000	10.0%	32	149	181	1,860	1	221	663	100	ap1981
1990	589,000	4,416,000	13.3%	34	126	160	3,681	18	176	565	100	ap1991
1999	700,000	6,000,000	11.7%	47	112	159	4,402	43	158	438	104	ap2000
2000	700,000	6,000,000	11.7%	47	114	161	4,347	41	160	446	104	ap2001
2001	700,000	6,000,000	11.7%	48	116	164	4,268	39	166	447	104	ap2002
2002	700,000	6,000,000	11.7%	46	116	162	4,320	44	167	438	104	ap2003
2003	700,000	6,000,000	11.7%	46	114	160	4,375	44	165	438	104	ap2004
2004	700,000	6,000,000	11.7%	49	118	167	4,191	43	173	445	104	ap2005
2006	704,000	6,036,000	11.7%	49	120	169	4,165	43	176	437	104	ap2007
Archdiocese of Johannesburg
2013	918,456	7,672,000	12.0%	44	137	181	5,074	50	173	353	128	ap2014
2016	1,036,000	8,009,000	12.9%	41	131	172	6,023	48	163	333	131	ap2017
2019	1,081,000	8,357,555	12.9%	52	132	184	5,875	69	172	318	132	ap2020
2021	1,112,360	8,690,460	12.8%	51	127	178	6,249	60	165	310	132	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Hugh Boyle † (Bishop: 18 Jul 1954 to 24 Jan 1976)
Peter Fanyana John Butelezi, O.M.I. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 30 Jul 1972 to 10 Jul 1975)
Charles Cox, O.M.I. † (Apostolic Administrator: 12 Oct 1912; Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jul 1914 to 14 Jul 1924)
Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald, O.M.I. † (Archbishop (Personal Title): 24 Jan 1976 to 2 Jul 1984)
Luc Julian Matthys † (Priest: 2 Dec 1961 to 1976)
William Miller, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Sep 1904 to 2 May 1912)
Zithulele Patrick Mvemve † (Priest: 29 Jun 1969; Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Mar 1986 to 26 Mar 1994)
David O’Leary, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 May 1925 to 25 Nov 1950)
Reginald Joseph Orsmond † (Priest: 8 Dec 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Jan 1983; Bishop: 2 Jul 1984 to 19 May 2002)
William Patrick Whelan, O.M.I. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1948; Vicar Apostolic: 25 Nov 1950; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 18 Jul 1954)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Johannesburg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 183
Diocese of Johannesburg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263
Archdiocese of Johannesburg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 99, Page 582, and Page 583

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Archdiocese of Johannesburg

Archidioecesis Ioannesburgensis