Keimoes-Upington (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Edward Gabriel Risi, O.M.I., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 8 February 1985
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 272,268 (105,163 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.catholic-keimoes.org.za/
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 323, Hoofweg 2, Keimoes 8860, South Africa
Telephone: (054)461.1846
Fax: (086)751.1452

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River
- Latin Name: Fluminis Orangensis
- Erected: 20 June 1885
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
- Latin Name: Fluminis Orangensis
- Elevated: 2 May 1898
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
- Latin Name: Keimoesanus
- Name Changed: 9 July 1940
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Diocese of Keimoes
- Latin Name: Keimoesana
- Elevated: 11 January 1951
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Marie Simon, O.S.F.S. † (Jul 1885 Appointed - 21 Nov 1932 Died)
Odilon Fages, O.S.F.S. † (21 Nov 1932 Succeeded - 14 Oct 1939 Died)
Henry Joseph Thünemann, O.S.F.S. † (9 Jul 1940 Appointed - 12 Sep 1962 Resigned)
Francis Xavier Esser, O.S.F.S. † (12 Sep 1962 Succeeded - 8 Dec 1966 Died)
John Baptist Minder, O.S.F.S. † (12 Oct 1967 Appointed - 5 Jul 2000 Retired)
Edward Gabriel Risi, O.M.I. (5 Jul 2000 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River
20 June 1885	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
2 May 1898	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
7 July 1909	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River (Grand Namaqualand)	Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand (erected)
7 July 1909	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale} (Kenhardt, Van Rhyns Dorp, and Fraserburg) Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange (Gordonia)	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
16 March 1927	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River (Calvinia and Fraserburg)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}
16 March 1927	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale} (Prieska)	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
9 July 1940	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River	Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
Diocese of Keimoes
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes	Diocese of Keimoes
27 September 1979	Territory Added	Diocese of Oudtshoorn (Calvinia and Williston)	Diocese of Keimoes
Diocese of Keimoes-Upington
8 February 1985	Name Changed	Diocese of Keimoes	Diocese of Keimoes-Upington

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 Keimoes

1950 15,913 105,725 15.1% 25 25 636 3 57 ap1951

Diocese of Keimoes

1970 31,751 32 32 992 43 52 20 ap1971

1980 42,867 363,067 11.8% 26 26 1,648 35 46 20 ap1981

Diocese of Keimoes-Upington

1990 54,869 605,030 9.1% 3 20 23 2,385 3 28 53 21 ap1991

1999 68,638 317,343 21.6% 4 13 17 4,037 3 16 44 21 ap2000

2000 69,633 318,288 21.9% 6 16 22 3,165 3 19 41 21 ap2001

2001 71,172 322,172 22.1% 6 15 21 3,389 3 18 41 22 ap2002

2002 53,464 325,437 16.4% 8 14 22 2,430 3 16 41 23 ap2003

2003 52,178 325,437 16.0% 9 14 23 2,268 2 23 44 23 ap2004

2004 60,501 331,984 18.2% 8 14 22 2,750 2 18 43 23 ap2005

2006 62,200 336,000 18.5% 10 16 26 2,392 2 19 31 26 ap2007

2013 69,764 387,582 18.0% 13 12 25 2,790 1 12 23 25 ap2014

2016 72,978 404,643 18.0% 14 10 24 3,040 1 10 22 25 ap2017

2019 71,083 425,582 16.7% 12 4 16 4,442 1 6 21 25 ap2020

2021 69,950 439,370 15.9% 15 8 23 3,041 1 8 22 25 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 Keimoes
1950	15,913	105,725	15.1%		25	25	636		3	57		ap1951
Diocese of Keimoes
1970	31,751				32	32	992		43	52	20	ap1971
1980	42,867	363,067	11.8%		26	26	1,648		35	46	20	ap1981
Diocese of Keimoes-Upington
1990	54,869	605,030	9.1%	3	20	23	2,385	3	28	53	21	ap1991
1999	68,638	317,343	21.6%	4	13	17	4,037	3	16	44	21	ap2000
2000	69,633	318,288	21.9%	6	16	22	3,165	3	19	41	21	ap2001
2001	71,172	322,172	22.1%	6	15	21	3,389	3	18	41	22	ap2002
2002	53,464	325,437	16.4%	8	14	22	2,430	3	16	41	23	ap2003
2003	52,178	325,437	16.0%	9	14	23	2,268	2	23	44	23	ap2004
2004	60,501	331,984	18.2%	8	14	22	2,750	2	18	43	23	ap2005
2006	62,200	336,000	18.5%	10	16	26	2,392	2	19	31	26	ap2007
2013	69,764	387,582	18.0%	13	12	25	2,790	1	12	23	25	ap2014
2016	72,978	404,643	18.0%	14	10	24	3,040	1	10	22	25	ap2017
2019	71,083	425,582	16.7%	12	4	16	4,442	1	6	21	25	ap2020
2021	69,950	439,370	15.9%	15	8	23	3,041	1	8	22	25	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Francis Xavier Esser, O.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 9 Jun 1955; Bishop: 12 Sep 1962 to 8 Dec 1966)
Odilon Fages, O.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jun 1928; Vicar Apostolic: 21 Nov 1932 to 14 Oct 1939)
John Baptist Minder, O.S.F.S. † (Bishop: 12 Oct 1967 to 5 Jul 2000)
Jean-Marie Simon, O.S.F.S. † (Prefect: Jul 1885; Vicar Apostolic: 4 May 1898 to 21 Nov 1932)
Henry Joseph Thünemann, O.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Jul 1940; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 12 Sep 1962)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 1, Page 581, and Page 582
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 268, and Page 269
Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 32, Page 555
Diocese of Keimoes
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 1,053

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Diocese of Keimoes-Upington

Dioecesis Keimoesana-Upingtonensis