Diocese of Basankusu

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Bishop(s) Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku, Bishop

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: 70,000 (27,037 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Eveche de Basankusu, c/o B.P. 1800, Kinshasa-Gombe, Rep. Democratique du Congo

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
  • Latin Name: Basankusuensis
  • Erected: 28 July 1926
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
  • Latin Name: Basankusuensis
  • Elevated: 8 January 1948
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
  • Square Kilometers: 70,000 (27,037 Square Miles)

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Gérard Wantenaar, M.H.M. † (2 Feb 1927 Appointed - 3 Dec 1951 Died)
• Willem van Kester, M.H.M. † (19 Jun 1952 Appointed - 18 Nov 1974 Resigned)
• Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. (18 Nov 1974 Appointed - 27 Jun 1998 Appointed, Bishop of Molegbe)
• Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (9 Nov 2001 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu
28 July 1926	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Nouvelle-Anvers	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
8 January 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Basankusu	Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu
14 June 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu Vicariate Apostolic of Lisala Vicariate Apostolic of Stanley-ville	Prefecture Apostolic of Isangi (erected)
Diocese of Basankusu
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Basankusu	Diocese of Basankusu

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Statistics

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 Basankusu
1950	36,872	200,000	18.4%		42	42	877			45		ap1951
Diocese of Basankusu
1957	47,623	205,000	23.2%	1	53	54	881			61	18	ap1960
1970	69,183	220,000	31.4%	5	42	47	1,471		50	23		ap1971
1980	91,600	267,000	34.3%	5	31	36	2,544		37	33		ap1981
1990	280,609	568,000	49.4%	13	24	37	7,584		39	32	20	ap1991
1998	170,485	420,000	40.6%	37	8	45	3,788		14	29	20	ap2003
2003	182,846	459,046	39.8%	27	3	30	6,094		10	30	20	ap2004
2004	202,273	568,162	35.6%	32	3	35	5,779		10	30	20	ap2005
2006	230,331	584,000	39.4%	33	3	36	6,398		10	31	20	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. (Bishop: 18 Nov 1974 to 27 Jun 1998)
• Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (Priest: 20 Aug 1978 to 6 Dec 1993; Bishop: 9 Nov 2001)
• Willem van Kester, M.H.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jun 1952; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 18 Nov 1974)
• Gérard Wantenaar, M.H.M. † (Prefect: 2 Feb 1927; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jan 1948 to 3 Dec 1951)