Diocese of Buta

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Bishop(s) Joseph Banga Bane, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 10 November 1959 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kisangani Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of Square Kilometers: 60,000 (23,175 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 105, Buta, Rep. Democratique du Congo

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé
  • Erected: 1898
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Prefecture Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}
  • Name Changed: 18 December 1911
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}
  • Elevated: 15 April 1924
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Buta
  • Latin Name: Butanus
  • Name Changed: 10 March 1926
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of
  • Square Kilometers: 60,000 (23,175 Square Miles)

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Leone Dérikx, O. Praem. † ( 1912 Appointed - 1924 Died)
• Charles Alphonse Armand Vanuytven, O. Praem. † (25 Apr 1924 Appointed - Dec 1952 Resigned)
• Georges Désiré Raeymaeckers, O. Praem. † (4 Feb 1953 Appointed - 10 Oct 1960 Died)
• Jacques Mbali † (4 Jul 1961 Appointed - 27 Sep 1996 Retired)
• Joseph Banga Bane (27 Sep 1996 Succeeded - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé
1898	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé (erected)
18 December 1911	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale} (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}
18 December 1911	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}
15 April 1924	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}
10 March 1926	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}	Prefecture Apostolic of Bondo (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Buta
10 March 1926	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Uélé {Uélé Occidental}	Vicariate Apostolic of Buta
22 February 1937	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Buta	Prefecture Apostolic of Lolo (erected)
Diocese of Buta
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Buta	Diocese of Buta

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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 Buta
1950	44,848	225,000	19.9%	5	52	57	786		108	102		ap1951
Diocese of Buta
1958	53,575	224,455	23.9%	9	53	62	864		6	18	17	ap1960
1969	70,000	238,000	29.4%	8	10	18	3,888		18	49	9	ap1971
1980	135,278	288,855	46.8%	12	9	21	6,441		17	51	16	ap1981
1990	165,200	325,000	50.8%	16	9	25	6,608		11	56	17	ap1991
1995	189,850	259,000	73.3%	24	7	31	6,124		9	53	17	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Joseph Banga Bane (Coadjutor Bishop: 15 Dec 1995; Bishop: 27 Sep 1996)
• Leone Dérikx, O. Praem. † (Prefect: 1912 to 1924)
• Jacques Mbali † (Priest: 20 Dec 1947; Bishop: 4 Jul 1961 to 27 Sep 1996)
• Georges Désiré Raeymaeckers, O. Praem. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Feb 1953; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 10 Oct 1960)
• Charles Alphonse Armand Vanuytven, O. Praem. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Apr 1924 to Dec 1952)