Archdiocese of Blantyre

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Bishop(s) Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye, Archbishop James Chiona, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Chikwawa Dedza Lilongwe Mangochi Mzuzu Zomba

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 25 April 1959 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Malawi Square Kilometers: 9,161 (3,538 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 385, Blantyre, Malawi Telephone: (1)63.79.05 Fax: (same)

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré
  • Latin Name: Shirensis
  • Erected: 3 December 1903
  • Country: Malawi

• Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré
  • Latin Name: Shirensis
  • Elevated: 14 April 1908
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Malawi

• Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
  • Latin Name: Blantyrensis
  • Name Changed: 15 May 1952
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Malawi

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Auguste Prézeau † (3 Dec 1903 Appointed - 2 Dec 1909 Died)
• Louis-Joseph-Marie Auneau, S.M.M. † (9 May 1910 Appointed - 25 Dec 1949 Retired)
• John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M. † (25 Dec 1949 Appointed - 14 Oct 1967 Resigned)
• James Chiona (29 Nov 1967 Appointed - 23 Jan 2001 Retired)
• Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye (23 Jan 2001 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré
3 December 1903	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Nyassa	Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré
14 April 1908	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Shiré	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré
15 May 1952	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré	Vicariate Apostolic of Zomba (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
15 May 1952	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Shiré	Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
Archdiocese of Blantyre
25 April 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre	Archdiocese of Blantyre
22 March 1965	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Blantyre	Diocese of Chikwawa (erected)

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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 Shiré
1950	208,783	1,120,000	18.6%	20	69	89	2,345		6	102	19	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Blantyre
Archdiocese of Blantyre
1970	300,807	965,960	31.1%	25	47	72	4,177		83	151	33	ap1971
1980	414,000	1,418,000	29.2%	32	42	74	5,594		75	178	40	ap1981
1990	562,512	2,356,000	23.9%	47	78	125	4,500		111	171	44	ap1991
1999	744,965	3,900,000	19.1%	68	19	87	8,562		64	169	46	ap2000
2000	741,268	4,002,000	18.5%	67	19	86	8,619		66	172	45	ap2001
2001	752,391	4,000,000	18.8%	67	17	84	8,957		62	142	46	ap2002
2002	762,139	4,000,000	19.1%	64	85	149	5,115		122	150	48	ap2003
2003	791,622	4,072,000	19.4%	66	17	83	9,537		37	156	46	ap2004
2004	972,488	4,145,000	23.5%	62	18	80	12,156		67	339	38	ap2005
2006	1,008,160	4,370,000	23.1%	57	19	76	13,265		82	211	37	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Louis-Joseph-Marie Auneau, S.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 May 1910 to 25 Dec 1949)
• James Chiona (Priest: 12 Sep 1954; Auxiliary Bishop: 11 Jan 1965; Archbishop: 29 Nov 1967 to 23 Jan 2001)
• Peter Martin Musikuwa (Priest: 12 Jul 1982 to 16 Apr 2003)
• Auguste Prézeau † (Prefect: 3 Dec 1903; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Apr 1908 to 2 Dec 1909)
• John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Dec 1949; Archbishop: 25 Apr 1959 to 14 Oct 1967)
• Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye (Archbishop: 23 Jan 2001)