Diocese of Eshowe

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Bishop(s) Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 11 January 1951 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Durban Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: South Africa Square Kilometers: 26,364 (10,183 Square Miles) Description: comprises Zululand proper, (with the exception of the districts of Ingwavuma, Ubombo and Hlabisa), and the four Natal districts of Vryheid, Paulpietersburg, Ngotshe and Babanango. Official Web Site: http://www.smom-za.org/eshowe/eshowe.htm Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 553, Eshowe 3815, Zululand, South Africa Telephone: (035)474.4151 Fax: 474.4644

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Zululand
  • Erected: 27 August 1921
  • Country: South Africa

• Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe
  • Latin Name: Eshovensis
  • Elevated: 11 December 1923
  • Vicariate
  • Country: South Africa
  • Square Kilometers: 32,152 (12,418 Square Miles)

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Thomas (Franz Xaver) Spreiter, O.S.B. † (27 Aug 1921 Appointed - 14 May 1943 Retired)
• Aurelian (Josef) Bilgeri, O.S.B. † (12 Jun 1947 Appointed - 24 Jul 1973 Died)
• Mansuet Dela Biyase † (28 Feb 1975 Appointed - 26 Jun 2005 Died)
• Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo (11 Mar 2008 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Zululand
27 August 1921	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Natal	Prefecture Apostolic of Zululand (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe
11 December 1923	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Zululand	Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe
Diocese of Eshowe
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe	Diocese of Eshowe
12 November 1962	Territory Lost	Diocese of Eshowe Diocese of Manzini	Prefecture Apostolic of Ingwavuma (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 Eshowe
1950	15,765	442,906	3.6%	1	32	33	477		63	100	12	ap1951
Diocese of Eshowe
1970	42,091	720,000	5.8%	4	45	49	859		78	220		ap1971
1980	59,148	1,028,000	5.8%	5	33	38	1,556		61	209	25	ap1981
1990	66,514	1,355,000	4.9%	14	24	38	1,750		50	166	29	ap1991
1999	79,725	2,000,000	4.0%	22	17	39	2,044		35	154	29	ap2000
2000	79,950	2,200,000	3.6%	23	16	39	2,050		37	139	29	ap2001
2001	80,000	2,200,000	3.6%	21	18	39	2,051		31	125	29	ap2002
2002	80,000	2,200,000	3.6%	23	17	40	2,000		32	129	51	ap2003
2003	80,600	2,200,600	3.7%	24	15	39	2,066		30	125	28	ap2004
2004	81,000	2,200,600	3.7%	25	16	41	1,975		28	125	28	ap2005
2006	82,400	2,305,000	3.6%	29	14	43	1,916		27	118	29	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo (Bishop: 11 Mar 2008 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Aurelian (Josef) Bilgeri, O.S.B. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jun 1947; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 24 Jul 1973)
• Mansuet Dela Biyase † (Bishop: 28 Feb 1975 to 26 Jun 2005)
• Theodos (Peter) Schall, O.S.B. † (Apostolic Administrator: 14 May 1943 to 3 Aug 1947)
• Thomas (Franz Xaver) Spreiter, O.S.B. † (Prefect: 27 Aug 1921; Vicar Apostolic: 11 Dec 1923 to 14 May 1943)