Mbeya (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga, Archbishop
Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga, Auxiliary Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 21 December 2018
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Square Kilometers: 60,348 (23,309 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 179, Mbeya, Tanzania
Telephone: (025)2502.250
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Tukuyu
- Latin Name: de Tukuyu
- Erected: 18 July 1932
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Prefecture Apostolic of Tukuyu
- Latin Name: de Tukuyu
- Elevated: 29 March 1938
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya
- Latin Name: Mbeyaensis
- Elevated: 14 July 1949
- Vicariate
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of
Diocese of Mbeya
- Latin Name: Mbeyaensis
- Elevated: 25 March 1953
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Songea
- Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Max Theodor Franz Donders, M. Afr. † (11 Nov 1932 Appointed - 1938 Resigned)
Ludwig Haag, M. Afr. † (8 Apr 1938 Appointed - 12 May 1947 Resigned)
Antoon van Oorschoot, M. Afr. † (17 Oct 1947 Appointed - 10 Dec 1964 Died)
James Dominic Sangu † (3 May 1966 Appointed - 28 Nov 1996 Retired)
Evaristo Marc Chengula, I.M.C. † (8 Nov 1996 Appointed - 21 Nov 2018 Died)
Gervas John Mwasikwabhila Nyaisonga (21 Dec 2018 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Tukuyu
18 July 1932	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Tanganyika (Eastern part)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Tukuyu (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Tukuyu
29 March 1938	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Tukuyu	Prefecture Apostolic of Tukuyu
Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya
14 July 1949	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Tukuyu	Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya
2 February 1950	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Karema (Unyamwanga) Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya (Unyamwanga)
Diocese of Mbeya
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya	Diocese of Mbeya
25 March 1972	Territory Lost	Diocese of Dodoma Diocese of Mbeya Diocese of Mbulu Archdiocese of Tabora	Diocese of Singida (erected) (Iramba, Singida, Manyoni, and parts of Taboraënsi)
18 November 1987	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Mbeya (from Tabora)
Archdiocese of Mbeya
21 December 2018	Elevated	Diocese of Mbeya	Archdiocese of Mbeya

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 Mbeya

1950 20,517 308,240 6.7% 4 18 22 932 3 8 ap1951

Diocese of Mbeya

1970 65,200 775,000 8.4% 8 34 42 1,552 41 32 15 ap1971

1980 86,511 1,107,713 7.8% 10 33 43 2,011 37 62 19 ap1981

1990 142,482 1,315,446 10.8% 28 26 54 2,638 29 136 21 ap1991

1999 204,705 1,831,408 11.2% 49 14 63 3,249 20 149 25 ap2000

2000 207,699 1,888,181 11.0% 47 15 62 3,349 21 152 26 ap2001

2001 239,250 1,912,727 12.5% 50 16 66 3,625 21 161 25 ap2002

2002 246,500 1,972,021 12.5% 44 14 58 4,250 18 160 27 ap2003

2003 263,589 1,815,332 14.5% 44 13 57 4,624 17 178 27 ap2004

2004 248,238 1,867,975 13.3% 47 10 57 4,355 15 194 28 ap2005

2013 489,814 2,423,000 20.2% 108 19 127 3,856 24 232 46 ap2014

2016 533,099 2,707,410 19.7% 112 14 126 4,230 18 233 47 ap2017

Archdiocese of Mbeya

2019 583,225 2,961,900 19.7% 70 15 85 6,861 15 307 51 ap2020

2021 550,530 2,795,897 19.7% 86 19 105 5,243 19 297 53 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 Mbeya
1950	20,517	308,240	6.7%	4	18	22	932		3	8	ap1951
Diocese of Mbeya
1970	65,200	775,000	8.4%	8	34	42	1,552	41	32	15	ap1971
1980	86,511	1,107,713	7.8%	10	33	43	2,011	37	62	19	ap1981
1990	142,482	1,315,446	10.8%	28	26	54	2,638	29	136	21	ap1991
1999	204,705	1,831,408	11.2%	49	14	63	3,249	20	149	25	ap2000
2000	207,699	1,888,181	11.0%	47	15	62	3,349	21	152	26	ap2001
2001	239,250	1,912,727	12.5%	50	16	66	3,625	21	161	25	ap2002
2002	246,500	1,972,021	12.5%	44	14	58	4,250	18	160	27	ap2003
2003	263,589	1,815,332	14.5%	44	13	57	4,624	17	178	27	ap2004
2004	248,238	1,867,975	13.3%	47	10	57	4,355	15	194	28	ap2005
2013	489,814	2,423,000	20.2%	108	19	127	3,856	24	232	46	ap2014
2016	533,099	2,707,410	19.7%	112	14	126	4,230	18	233	47	ap2017
Archdiocese of Mbeya
2019	583,225	2,961,900	19.7%	70	15	85	6,861	15	307	51	ap2020
2021	550,530	2,795,897	19.7%	86	19	105	5,243	19	297	53	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Evaristo Marc Chengula, I.M.C. † (Bishop: 8 Nov 1996 to 21 Nov 2018)
Max Theodor Franz Donders, M. Afr. † (Superior: 11 Nov 1932 to 1938)
Ludwig Haag, M. Afr. † (Prefect: 8 Apr 1938 to 12 May 1947)
James Dominic Sangu † (Bishop: 3 May 1966 to 28 Nov 1996)
Antoon van Oorschoot, M. Afr. † (Prefect: 17 Oct 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jul 1949; Bishop: 25 Mar 1953 to 10 Dec 1964)

Source(s)

Mission "Sui Iuris" of Tukuyu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 24, Page 395, and Page 396
Prefecture Apostolic of Tukuyu
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 30, Page 332, and Page 333
Vicariate Apostolic of Mbeya
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 282, and Page 283
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 445, and Page 446
Diocese of Mbeya
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 45, Page 705, to Page 710
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 79, Page 1,436, and Page 1,437
Archdiocese of Mbeya
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 111, Page 258, and Page 259

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Archdiocese of Mbeya

Archidioecesis Mbeyaensis