Molegbe (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba, Apostolic Administrator

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 10 November 1959
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Square Kilometers: 79,000 (30,513 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Évêché, B.P. 74, Gbado-Lite, Equateur, Rep. Democratique du Congo; c/o Procure Sainte Anne, B.P. 1800, Kinshasa Gombe, Rep Democratique du Congo
Telephone: (081)810.92.91

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
- Latin Name: de Ubanghi Belgico
- Erected: 7 April 1911
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
- Latin Name: de Ubanghi Belgico
- Elevated: 28 January 1935
- Vicariate
- Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

Past and Present Ordinaries

Raymond Carnonckel, O.F.M. Cap. † (11 Jul 1911 Appointed - 26 Dec 1930 Died)
Basile Octave Tanghe, O.F.M. Cap. † (16 Oct 1931 Appointed - 13 Dec 1947 Died)
Jean Ghislain Delcuve, O.F.M. Cap. † (21 Jun 1948 Appointed - Jan 1958 Resigned)
Léon Théobald Delaere, O.F.M. Cap. † (13 Nov 1958 Appointed - 3 Aug 1967 Resigned)
Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu † (5 Sep 1968 Appointed - 18 Oct 1997 Resigned)
Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. † (27 Jun 1998 Appointed - 23 May 2007 Retired)
Dominique Bulamatari Kizayakana † (14 Nov 2009 Appointed - 1 Aug 2023 Resigned)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
7 April 1911	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Belgian Congo {Congo Belga} (Between the Ubangi and Congo rivers)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi} (erected)
10 March 1926	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental} (Boundaries Adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi} (Boundaries Adjusted)
18 July 1932	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Nouvelle-Anvers (Boundaries adjusted) Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi} (Boundaries adjusted)
Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
28 January 1935	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}	Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
Diocese of Molegbe
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}	Diocese of Molegbe

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 Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}

1950 95,121 500,000 19.0% 1 38 39 2,439 77 32 ap1951

Diocese of Molegbe

1970 263,268 600,000 43.9% 11 55 66 3,988 73 83 4 ap1971

1980 360,230 877,000 41.1% 10 48 58 6,210 68 82 22 ap1981

1990 695,228 1,148,949 60.5% 24 38 62 11,213 115 60 21 ap1991

1997 1,879,566 3,761,732 50.0% 39 22 61 30,812 32 66 22 ap2003

2013 2,148,000 4,560,000 47.1% 42 14 56 38,357 54 90 23 ap2014

2016 857,763 1,596,214 53.7% 44 27 71 12,081 58 93 24 ap2017

2019 897,914 1,668,172 53.8% 40 25 65 13,814 58 84 24 ap2020

2021 944,440 1,773,900 53.2% 51 25 76 12,426 49 85 24 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 Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
1950	95,121	500,000	19.0%	1	38	39	2,439	77	32		ap1951
Diocese of Molegbe
1970	263,268	600,000	43.9%	11	55	66	3,988	73	83	4	ap1971
1980	360,230	877,000	41.1%	10	48	58	6,210	68	82	22	ap1981
1990	695,228	1,148,949	60.5%	24	38	62	11,213	115	60	21	ap1991
1997	1,879,566	3,761,732	50.0%	39	22	61	30,812	32	66	22	ap2003
2013	2,148,000	4,560,000	47.1%	42	14	56	38,357	54	90	23	ap2014
2016	857,763	1,596,214	53.7%	44	27	71	12,081	58	93	24	ap2017
2019	897,914	1,668,172	53.8%	40	25	65	13,814	58	84	24	ap2020
2021	944,440	1,773,900	53.2%	51	25	76	12,426	49	85	24	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Dominique Bulamatari Kizayakana † (Bishop: 14 Nov 2009 to 1 Aug 2023)
Raymond Carnonckel, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 11 Jul 1911 to 26 Dec 1930)
Léon Théobald Delaere, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Nov 1958; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 3 Aug 1967)
Jean Ghislain Delcuve, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 21 Jun 1948 to Jan 1958)
Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu † (Priest: 20 Jul 1957; Bishop: 5 Sep 1968 to 18 Oct 1997)
Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. † (Bishop: 27 Jun 1998 to 23 May 2007)
Basile Octave Tanghe, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 16 Oct 1931; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 1935 to 13 Dec 1947)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 198
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 370, and Page 371
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 25, Page 199, and Page 200

Diocese of Molegbe

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 372, to Page 377

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Diocese of Molegbe

Dioecesis Molegbensis