Diocese of Loikaw

Dioecesis Loikavensis

Bishop(s)

Celso Ba Shwe, Bishop
Sotero Phamo (Thein Myint), Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 14 November 1988
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Taunggyi
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Myanmar
Square Kilometers: 11,730 (4,530 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Naung Yah, Loikaw 09011, Kayah State, Myanmar
Telephone: (083)21.817
Fax: 21.285

Past and Present Ordinaries

Sotero Phamo (Thein Myint) (14 Nov 1988 Appointed - 26 Apr 2014 Resigned)
Stephen Tjephe † (15 Nov 2014 Appointed - 16 Dec 2020 Died)
Celso Ba Shwe (29 Mar 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
14 November 1988	Erected	Diocese of Taunggyi (Kayah)	Diocese of Loikaw (erected)
17 January 1998	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Loikaw (from Yangon)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1990 45,659 150,000 30.4% 30 30 1,521 3 68 17 ap1991

1999 56,374 188,000 30.0% 67 4 71 794 8 123 24 ap2000

2000 55,775 190,436 29.3% 69 1 70 796 11 131 22 ap2001

2001 58,096 190,436 30.5% 57 6 63 922 15 119 22 ap2002

2002 57,851 277,009 20.9% 59 5 64 903 11 89 22 ap2003

2003 60,701 277,009 21.9% 57 8 65 933 10 139 27 ap2004

2004 62,083 301,187 20.6% 55 8 63 985 10 149 28 ap2005

2013 74,868 346,000 21.6% 75 18 93 805 37 198 35 ap2014

2016 81,074 358,000 22.6% 98 41 139 583 52 210 39 ap2017

2019 85,981 293,671 29.3% 86 46 132 651 56 215 40 ap2020

2021 91,773 303,351 30.3% 88 16 104 882 20 234 40 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1990	45,659	150,000	30.4%	30		30	1,521	3	68	17	ap1991
1999	56,374	188,000	30.0%	67	4	71	794	8	123	24	ap2000
2000	55,775	190,436	29.3%	69	1	70	796	11	131	22	ap2001
2001	58,096	190,436	30.5%	57	6	63	922	15	119	22	ap2002
2002	57,851	277,009	20.9%	59	5	64	903	11	89	22	ap2003
2003	60,701	277,009	21.9%	57	8	65	933	10	139	27	ap2004
2004	62,083	301,187	20.6%	55	8	63	985	10	149	28	ap2005
2013	74,868	346,000	21.6%	75	18	93	805	37	198	35	ap2014
2016	81,074	358,000	22.6%	98	41	139	583	52	210	39	ap2017
2019	85,981	293,671	29.3%	86	46	132	651	56	215	40	ap2020
2021	91,773	303,351	30.3%	88	16	104	882	20	234	40	ap2022