Port Elizabeth (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vincent Mduduzi Zungu, O.F.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Cape Town {Kaapstad}
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 71,828 (27,743 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.catholic-pe.co.za/
Mailing Address: 10 Park Lane, Central, Port Elizabeth 6001; P.O. Box 12194, Centrahil, Port Elizabeth 6006, South Africa
Telephone: (043)733.8415
Fax: 733.8416

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}
- Erected: 18 June 1818
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}
- Latin Name: Districtus Orientalis Promontorii Bonae Spei
- Name Changed: 30 July 1847
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Elizabeth
- Latin Name: Portus Elizabethensis
- Name Changed: 13 June 1939
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Patrick Raymond Griffith, O.P. † (6 Jun 1837 Appointed - 30 Jul 1847 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale})
Aidan Devereux † (30 Jul 1847 Appointed - 11 Feb 1854 Died)
Michael Jones † (26 Sep 1854 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Edward MacCabe † (30 Jan 1855 Appointed - Did Not Take Effect)
Patrick Moran † (19 Feb 1856 Appointed - 3 Dec 1869 Appointed, Bishop of Dunedin)
James David Ricards † (13 Jan 1871 Appointed - 30 Nov 1893 Died)
Pietro Strobino † (30 Nov 1893 Succeeded - 1 Oct 1896 Died)
Hugh McSherry † (1 Oct 1896 Succeeded - 15 Dec 1938 Retired)
James Colbert † (13 Jun 1939 Appointed - Sep 1948 Resigned)
Hugh Boyle † (9 Dec 1948 Appointed - 18 Jul 1954 Appointed, Bishop of Johannesburg)
Ernest Arthur Green † (19 Apr 1955 Appointed - 27 Dec 1970 Resigned)
John Patrick Murphy † (6 May 1972 Appointed - 21 Mar 1986 Retired)
Michael Gower Coleman † (21 Mar 1986 Appointed - 20 Aug 2011 Resigned)
Vincent Mduduzi Zungu, O.F.M. (2 Feb 2014 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}
18 June 1818	Erected		Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza} (erected)
6 June 1837	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}	Vicariate Apostolic of Mauritius (erected)
30 July 1847	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Western District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Occidentale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}
30 July 1847	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}
15 November 1850	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Natal (erected)
4 June 1886	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale} Vicariate Apostolic of Natal	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange (erected)
12 June 1923	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale} (BarMy-JEast, Wodehouse, SterJcstroom, Molteno Steynsburg, Middelburg Hanover, and Richmond)	Prefecture Apostolic of Gariep (erected)
20 February 1929	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale} (Queenstown, Cathcart, Stutterheim, Tarka, Hofmeyr, Glen Grey, Stockenström, Maraisburg, and part of St Mark’s)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Queenstown (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Port Elizabeth
13 June 1939	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Elizabeth
Diocese of Port Elizabeth
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Elizabeth	Diocese of Port Elizabeth

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 Port Elizabeth

1950 25,365 784,491 3.2% 57 18 75 338 52 568 16 ap1951

Diocese of Port Elizabeth

1969 50,748 717,500 7.1% 73 12 85 597 39 563 39 ap1971

1980 65,062 1,542,000 4.2% 57 12 69 942 22 375 45 ap1981

1990 79,233 1,824,233 4.3% 40 9 49 1,617 5 13 230 45 ap1991

1999 92,596 2,542,596 3.6% 39 8 47 1,970 5 14 172 44 ap2000

2000 92,731 2,546,000 3.6% 39 7 46 2,015 5 13 167 44 ap2001

2001 93,119 2,693,119 3.5% 39 6 45 2,069 5 11 157 44 ap2002

2002 98,179 2,698,179 3.6% 36 6 42 2,337 4 9 175 44 ap2003

2003 98,648 2,698,648 3.7% 39 8 47 2,098 10 164 44 ap2004

2004 98,800 2,698,800 3.7% 36 9 45 2,195 14 11 158 44 ap2005

2013 111,200 2,985,000 3.7% 34 23 57 1,950 29 25 111 43 ap2014

2016 111,944 2,842,556 3.9% 32 26 58 1,930 27 28 98 43 ap2017

2019 118,536 2,900,000 4.1% 29 33 62 1,911 26 33 116 62 ap2020

2021 119,590 2,928,535 4.1% 33 28 61 1,960 21 28 102 62 ap2022

2023 137,689 3,000,000 4.6% 33 26 59 2,333 36 26 107 59 ap2024

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 Port Elizabeth
1950	25,365	784,491	3.2%	57	18	75	338		52	568	16	ap1951
Diocese of Port Elizabeth
1969	50,748	717,500	7.1%	73	12	85	597		39	563	39	ap1971
1980	65,062	1,542,000	4.2%	57	12	69	942		22	375	45	ap1981
1990	79,233	1,824,233	4.3%	40	9	49	1,617	5	13	230	45	ap1991
1999	92,596	2,542,596	3.6%	39	8	47	1,970	5	14	172	44	ap2000
2000	92,731	2,546,000	3.6%	39	7	46	2,015	5	13	167	44	ap2001
2001	93,119	2,693,119	3.5%	39	6	45	2,069	5	11	157	44	ap2002
2002	98,179	2,698,179	3.6%	36	6	42	2,337	4	9	175	44	ap2003
2003	98,648	2,698,648	3.7%	39	8	47	2,098		10	164	44	ap2004
2004	98,800	2,698,800	3.7%	36	9	45	2,195	14	11	158	44	ap2005
2013	111,200	2,985,000	3.7%	34	23	57	1,950	29	25	111	43	ap2014
2016	111,944	2,842,556	3.9%	32	26	58	1,930	27	28	98	43	ap2017
2019	118,536	2,900,000	4.1%	29	33	62	1,911	26	33	116	62	ap2020
2021	119,590	2,928,535	4.1%	33	28	61	1,960	21	28	102	62	ap2022
2023	137,689	3,000,000	4.6%	33	26	59	2,333	36	26	107	59	ap2024

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Hugh Boyle † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1948; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 18 Jul 1954)
James Colbert † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jun 1939 to Sep 1948)
Michael Gower Coleman † (Bishop: 21 Mar 1986 to 20 Aug 2011)
Aidan Devereux † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jul 1847 to 11 Feb 1854)
Ernest Arthur Green † (Bishop: 19 Apr 1955 to 27 Dec 1970)
Patrick Raymond Griffith, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 6 Jun 1837 to 30 Jul 1847)
Michael Jones † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Sep 1854 - Did Not Take Effect)
Edward MacCabe † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jan 1855 - Did Not Take Effect)
Hugh McSherry † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jun 1896; Vicar Apostolic: 1 Oct 1896 to 15 Dec 1938)
Patrick Moran † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Feb 1856 to 3 Dec 1869)
John Patrick Murphy † (Priest: 3 Jun 1934; Bishop: 6 May 1972 to 21 Mar 1986)
James David Ricards † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jan 1871 to 30 Nov 1893)
Pietro Strobino † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jun 1891; Vicar Apostolic: 30 Nov 1893 to 1 Oct 1896)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope {Capo de Buona Speranza}
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, Volume 1, Page 474
Vicariate Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District {Capo de Buona Speranza, Distretto Orientale}
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, Volume 1, Page 474, to Page 475

Diocese of Port Elizabeth

Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

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Diocese of Port Elizabeth

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