Windhoek (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, O.M.I., Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 14 March 1994
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Namibia
Square Kilometers: 560,158 (216,361 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: 91 Werner List Street, P.O. Box 272, Windhoek 9000, Namibia
Telephone: (061)22.83.76; 22.34.30
Fax: 22.98.36

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore
- Latin Name: de Cimbebasia Inferiore
- Erected: 1 August 1892
- Country: Namibia
Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia
- Name Changed: 10 January 1921
- Country: Namibia
Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek
- Latin Name: Vindhoekensis
- Elevated: 11 May 1926
- Vicariate
- Country: Namibia

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bernard Pierre Herrmann, O.M.I. † ( 1898 Appointed - 1901 Resigned)
Augustinus Nachtwey, O.M.I. † (Dec 1901 Appointed - 1908 Resigned)
Joseph Schemmer, O.M.I. † (24 Nov 1908 Appointed - 17 Dec 1909 Resigned)
Eugène Klaeylé, O.M.I. † (18 Dec 1909 Appointed - 10 Jan 1921 Resigned)
Joseph Gotthardt, O.M.I. † (11 Jan 1921 Appointed - 20 Mar 1961 Retired)
Rudolf Johannes Maria Koppmann, O.M.I. † (20 Mar 1961 Succeeded - 29 Nov 1980 Resigned)
Bonifatius Haushiku, S.C.P. † (29 Nov 1980 Appointed - 12 Jun 2002 Died)
Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, O.M.I. (21 Sep 2004 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore
1 August 1892	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore (erected)
2 June 1913	Territory Added	Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand (Gobabis, Windhuk, Karibib, and Swakopmund)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore
Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia
10 January 1921	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia Inferiore	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia
Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek
11 May 1926	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia	Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek
10 March 1950	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Victoria Falls Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek (Eastern Caprivi Strip)	Vicariate Apostolic of Livingstone
2 April 1959	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bulawayo Diocese of Kimberley Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek	Prefecture Apostolic of Bechuanaland (erected)
3 December 1971	Territory Added	Diocese of Livingstone (Eastern Caprivi Strip)	Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek
14 March 1994	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek (Okavango and Caprivi along with parts of Otjozondjupa and Otjikoto)	Vicariate Apostolic of Rundu (erected)
Archdiocese of Windhoek
14 March 1994	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Windhoek	Archdiocese of Windhoek

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 Windhoek

1950 20,966 220,000 9.5% 1 39 40 524 68 164 8 ap1951

1969 81,119 550,000 14.7% 2 52 54 1,502 96 241 40 ap1971

1980 129,066 823,000 15.7% 2 40 42 3,073 7 86 326 42 ap1981

1990 219,588 1,300,000 16.9% 4 34 38 5,778 18 73 230 31 ap1991

Archdiocese of Windhoek

1999 166,022 1,700,000 9.8% 9 25 34 4,883 18 43 216 36 ap2000

2000 176,052 1,700,000 10.4% 7 30 37 4,758 20 54 182 61 ap2001

2001 181,346 1,700,000 10.7% 12 32 44 4,121 20 57 183 61 ap2002

2002 233,914 1,700,000 13.8% 12 33 45 5,198 24 66 192 61 ap2003

2003 239,702 1,700,000 14.1% 12 34 46 5,210 24 65 206 63 ap2004

2004 246,654 1,800,000 13.7% 12 32 44 5,605 23 59 312 61 ap2005

2010 278,822 2,222,322 12.5% 18 46 64 4,356 24 62 383 71 ap2011

2014 297,626 2,405,000 12.4% 21 45 66 4,509 25 71 329 72 ap2015

2017 293,974 2,505,600 11.7% 15 49 64 4,593 25 78 369 76 ap2018

2020 303,998 2,539,185 12.0% 20 44 64 4,749 24 64 347 77 ap2021

2022 316,000 2,636,000 12.0% 25 46 71 4,450 24 70 347 77 ap2023

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 Windhoek
1950	20,966	220,000	9.5%	1	39	40	524		68	164	8	ap1951
1969	81,119	550,000	14.7%	2	52	54	1,502		96	241	40	ap1971
1980	129,066	823,000	15.7%	2	40	42	3,073	7	86	326	42	ap1981
1990	219,588	1,300,000	16.9%	4	34	38	5,778	18	73	230	31	ap1991
Archdiocese of Windhoek
1999	166,022	1,700,000	9.8%	9	25	34	4,883	18	43	216	36	ap2000
2000	176,052	1,700,000	10.4%	7	30	37	4,758	20	54	182	61	ap2001
2001	181,346	1,700,000	10.7%	12	32	44	4,121	20	57	183	61	ap2002
2002	233,914	1,700,000	13.8%	12	33	45	5,198	24	66	192	61	ap2003
2003	239,702	1,700,000	14.1%	12	34	46	5,210	24	65	206	63	ap2004
2004	246,654	1,800,000	13.7%	12	32	44	5,605	23	59	312	61	ap2005
2010	278,822	2,222,322	12.5%	18	46	64	4,356	24	62	383	71	ap2011
2014	297,626	2,405,000	12.4%	21	45	66	4,509	25	71	329	72	ap2015
2017	293,974	2,505,600	11.7%	15	49	64	4,593	25	78	369	76	ap2018
2020	303,998	2,539,185	12.0%	20	44	64	4,749	24	64	347	77	ap2021
2022	316,000	2,636,000	12.0%	25	46	71	4,450	24	70	347	77	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Gotthardt, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 11 Jan 1921; Vicar Apostolic: 18 May 1926 to 20 Mar 1961)
Bonifatius Haushiku, S.C.P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Nov 1978; Vicar Apostolic: 29 Nov 1980; Archbishop: 14 Mar 1994 to 12 Jun 2002)
Bernard Pierre Herrmann, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 1898 to 1901)
Eugène Klaeylé, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 18 Dec 1909 to 10 Jan 1921)
Rudolf Johannes Maria Koppmann, O.M.I. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jan 1957; Vicar Apostolic: 20 Mar 1961 to 29 Nov 1980)
Augustinus Nachtwey, O.M.I. † (Prefect: Dec 1901 to 1908)
Joseph Schemmer, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 24 Nov 1908 to 17 Dec 1909)