Kikwit (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Timothée Bodika Mansiyai, P.S.S., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 10 November 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kinshasa
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 73,000 (28,196 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://diocesedekikwit.org
Mailing Address: Boulevard National 49/B, Q. Lunia, Lukolela, B.P. 144, Kikwit, Kwilu; Eveche, B.P. 7245, Kinshasa 1, Rep. Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (081)9965.553; (082)2707.112

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
- Latin Name: de Koango
- Erected: 31 January 1903
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
- Latin Name: de Koango
- Elevated: 28 March 1928
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit
- Latin Name: Kikuitensis
- Name Changed: 21 February 1955
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Julien Banckaert, S.J. † (26 Jan 1903 Appointed - 13 Dec 1911 Resigned)
Stanislas-Marie-Liévin de Vos, S.J. † (25 Sep 1911 Appointed - 28 Mar 1928 Resigned)
Sylvain van Hee, S.J. † (28 Mar 1928 Appointed - 20 Feb 1936 Resigned)
Henri van Schingen, S.J. † (17 Dec 1936 Appointed - 2 Jul 1954 Died)
André Lefèbvre, S.J. † (25 Feb 1955 Appointed - 29 Nov 1967 Resigned)
Alexander Mbuka-Nzundu † (29 Nov 1967 Appointed - 14 Oct 1985 Died)
Marie-Edouard Mununu Kasiala, O.C.S.O. † (10 Mar 1986 Appointed - 19 Nov 2016 Retired)
Timothée Bodika Mansiyai, P.S.S. (19 Nov 2016 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
31 January 1903	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Belgian Congo {Congo Belga} o Indipendente	Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (erected)
2 March 1921	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Area left of the river Loango)	Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
29 January 1924	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Ndolo) Archdiocese of Makassar (Kinshasa)	Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville
Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
28 March 1928	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango	Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
1 April 1931	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Western region)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu (erected)
13 April 1937	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kasaï Superiore (Basongo-Brabant) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Niadi and Kamtseha-Loange)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu (erected)
25 April 1939	Territory Added		Prefecture Apostolic of Ipamu (Boundaries Adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundaries Adjusted)
24 May 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Coquilhatville (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu (Boundries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Léopoldville (Boundries adjusted)
11 July 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Ipamu (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango (Boundaries adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit
21 February 1955	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango	Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit
5 July 1957	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit Vicariate Apostolic of Kisantu	Prefecture Apostolic of Kenge (erected)
Diocese of Kikwit
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit	Diocese of Kikwit

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 Koango o Kwango

1950 213,821 852,031 25.1% 21 72 93 2,299 139 120 4 ap1951

Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit

Diocese of Kikwit

1970 623,375 1,220,000 51.1% 32 104 136 4,583 200 300 32 ap1971

1980 787,678 1,499,000 52.5% 29 95 124 6,352 163 198 48 ap1981

1988 1,800,000 2,367,000 76.0% 58 93 151 11,920 198 218 48 ap1991

1999 1,601,771 2,652,920 60.4% 81 73 154 10,401 182 343 50 ap2000

2000 2,002,214 3,316,150 60.4% 84 61 145 13,808 236 329 52 ap2001

2001 2,000,340 3,489,114 57.3% 94 54 148 13,515 157 289 52 ap2002

2002 1,920,099 3,640,000 52.7% 95 52 147 13,061 157 285 52 ap2003

2003 1,850,000 3,686,400 50.2% 89 54 143 12,937 165 298 52 ap2004

2004 2,004,852 3,809,220 52.6% 100 54 154 13,018 169 395 52 ap2005

2006 2,478,785 3,995,896 62.0% 102 56 158 15,688 170 396 52 ap2007

2013 2,508,898 4,869,000 51.5% 115 53 168 14,933 139 378 53 ap2014

2016 2,528,205 4,397,805 57.5% 125 54 179 14,124 155 379 53 ap2017

2019 2,788,000 4,833,000 57.7% 138 54 192 14,520 155 379 53 ap2020

2021 2,967,330 5,288,670 56.1% 129 50 179 16,577 142 480 55 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 Koango o Kwango
1950	213,821	852,031	25.1%	21	72	93	2,299	139	120	4	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit
Diocese of Kikwit
1970	623,375	1,220,000	51.1%	32	104	136	4,583	200	300	32	ap1971
1980	787,678	1,499,000	52.5%	29	95	124	6,352	163	198	48	ap1981
1988	1,800,000	2,367,000	76.0%	58	93	151	11,920	198	218	48	ap1991
1999	1,601,771	2,652,920	60.4%	81	73	154	10,401	182	343	50	ap2000
2000	2,002,214	3,316,150	60.4%	84	61	145	13,808	236	329	52	ap2001
2001	2,000,340	3,489,114	57.3%	94	54	148	13,515	157	289	52	ap2002
2002	1,920,099	3,640,000	52.7%	95	52	147	13,061	157	285	52	ap2003
2003	1,850,000	3,686,400	50.2%	89	54	143	12,937	165	298	52	ap2004
2004	2,004,852	3,809,220	52.6%	100	54	154	13,018	169	395	52	ap2005
2006	2,478,785	3,995,896	62.0%	102	56	158	15,688	170	396	52	ap2007
2013	2,508,898	4,869,000	51.5%	115	53	168	14,933	139	378	53	ap2014
2016	2,528,205	4,397,805	57.5%	125	54	179	14,124	155	379	53	ap2017
2019	2,788,000	4,833,000	57.7%	138	54	192	14,520	155	379	53	ap2020
2021	2,967,330	5,288,670	56.1%	129	50	179	16,577	142	480	55	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Julien Banckaert, S.J. † (Prefect: 26 Jan 1903 to 13 Dec 1911)
Carolus Dauvin, S.J. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1948 to 28 Dec 1948)
Joseph Guffens, S.J. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jul 1949 to Dec 1954)
André Lefèbvre, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Feb 1955; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 29 Nov 1967)
Alexander Mbuka-Nzundu † (Priest: 11 Aug 1948; Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jun 1961; Bishop: 29 Nov 1967 to 14 Oct 1985)
Marie-Edouard Mununu Kasiala, O.C.S.O. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Nov 1984; Bishop: 10 Mar 1986 to 19 Nov 2016)
Sylvain van Hee, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Mar 1928 to 20 Feb 1936)
Henri van Schingen, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Dec 1936 to 2 Jul 1954)
Stanislas-Marie-Liévin de Vos, S.J. † (Prefect: 25 Sep 1911 to 28 Mar 1928)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 13, Page 297
Vicariate Apostolic of Koango o Kwango
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 20, Page 222
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 31, Page 399, and Page 400
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 648, and Page 649
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 893, and Page 894
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 284, and Page 285
Vicariate Apostolic of Kikwit
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 560
Diocese of Kikwit
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377

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Diocese of Kikwit

Dioecesis Kikuitensis