Kavieng (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Roland Vunuvung, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 15 November 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Rabaul
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Papua New Guinea
Square Kilometers: 23,000 (8,883 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 49, Kavieng 631, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: 98.42.055
Fax: 98.42.144

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kavieng
- Latin Name: Kaviengensis
- Erected: 5 July 1957
- Vicariate
- Country: Papua New Guinea

Past and Present Ordinaries

Alfred Matthew Stemper, M.S.C. † (5 Jul 1957 Appointed - 24 Oct 1980 Resigned)
Karl Bernhard Hesse, M.S.C. † (24 Oct 1980 Appointed - 7 Jul 1990 Appointed, Archbishop of Rabaul)
Ambrose Kiapseni, M.S.C. † (21 Jan 1991 Appointed - 22 Jun 2018 Resigned)
Rochus Josef Tatamai, M.S.C. (22 Jun 2018 Appointed - 19 Jun 2020 Appointed, Archbishop of Rabaul)
Roland Vunuvung (24 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kavieng
5 July 1957	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Rabaul (Island of New Ireland with the islands commonly known as the Duke of York, the island of New Hanover, the Admiralty islands with the rest which are adjacent)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kavieng (erected)
Diocese of Kavieng
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kavieng	Diocese of Kavieng

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 Kavieng

1970 33,144 81,000 40.9% 24 24 1,381 33 24 ap1971

1980 42,455 89,000 47.7% 3 21 24 1,768 37 28 ap1981

1990 57,382 118,682 48.3% 5 15 20 2,869 24 29 19 ap1991

1999 68,940 143,000 48.2% 11 12 23 2,997 22 25 18 ap2000

2000 65,784 145,000 45.4% 13 8 21 3,132 14 20 22 ap2001

2001 66,500 159,000 41.8% 13 8 21 3,166 15 35 22 ap2002

2002 67,500 167,000 40.4% 11 8 19 3,552 16 29 18 ap2003

2003 70,000 170,000 41.2% 12 4 16 4,375 10 29 18 ap2004

2004 79,000 180,000 43.9% 13 7 20 3,950 17 21 18 ap2005

2006 79,000 180,000 43.9% 11 5 16 4,937 13 15 18 ap2007

2013 96,560 185,000 52.2% 18 7 25 3,862 13 10 20 ap2014

2016 102,900 197,000 52.2% 24 5 29 3,548 11 10 18 ap2017

2019 107,000 205,000 52.2% 20 20 5,350 6 20 20 ap2020

2021 111,000 213,000 52.1% 19 19 5,842 6 20 20 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Kavieng
1970	33,144	81,000	40.9%		24	24	1,381	33	24		ap1971
1980	42,455	89,000	47.7%	3	21	24	1,768	37	28		ap1981
1990	57,382	118,682	48.3%	5	15	20	2,869	24	29	19	ap1991
1999	68,940	143,000	48.2%	11	12	23	2,997	22	25	18	ap2000
2000	65,784	145,000	45.4%	13	8	21	3,132	14	20	22	ap2001
2001	66,500	159,000	41.8%	13	8	21	3,166	15	35	22	ap2002
2002	67,500	167,000	40.4%	11	8	19	3,552	16	29	18	ap2003
2003	70,000	170,000	41.2%	12	4	16	4,375	10	29	18	ap2004
2004	79,000	180,000	43.9%	13	7	20	3,950	17	21	18	ap2005
2006	79,000	180,000	43.9%	11	5	16	4,937	13	15	18	ap2007
2013	96,560	185,000	52.2%	18	7	25	3,862	13	10	20	ap2014
2016	102,900	197,000	52.2%	24	5	29	3,548	11	10	18	ap2017
2019	107,000	205,000	52.2%	20		20	5,350	6	20	20	ap2020
2021	111,000	213,000	52.1%	19		19	5,842	6	20	20	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Karl Bernhard Hesse, M.S.C. † (Bishop: 24 Oct 1980 to 7 Jul 1990)
Ambrose Kiapseni, M.S.C. † (Bishop: 21 Jan 1991 to 22 Jun 2018)
Alfred Matthew Stemper, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jul 1957; Bishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 24 Oct 1980)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Kavieng
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 111, and Page 112
Diocese of Kavieng
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 480, to Page 482

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Diocese of Kavieng

Dioecesis Kaviengensis