Diocese of Gweru

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Bishop(s) Martin Munyanyi, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 25 June 1982 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bulawayo Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Zimbabwe Square Kilometers: 29,158 (11,262 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 622, 77 Kopje Rd. Gweru, Zimbabwe Telephone: (054)223.565 Fax: 223.381

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria
  • Latin Name: Arcis Victoriae
  • Erected: 14 November 1946
  • Country: Zimbabwe

• Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
  • Latin Name: Arcis Victoriae
  • Elevated: 24 June 1950
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Zimbabwe

• Diocese of Gwelo
  • Latin Name: Guelensis
  • Elevated: 1 January 1955
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Salisbury
  • Country: Zimbabwe

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Aloysius Haene, S.M.B. † (28 Mar 1947 Appointed - 3 Feb 1977 Resigned)
• Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya † (3 Feb 1977 Appointed - 14 Jan 1987 Died)
• Francis Xavier Mugadzi † (25 Oct 1988 Appointed - 6 Feb 2004 Died)
• Martin Munyanyi (11 May 2006 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria
14 November 1946	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
24 June 1950	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria
2 February 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria Vicariate Apostolic of Salisbury	Prefecture Apostolic of Umtali (erected)
Diocese of Gwelo
1 January 1955	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Fort Victoria	Diocese of Gwelo
Diocese of Gweru
25 June 1982	Name Changed	Diocese of Gwelo	Diocese of Gweru
9 February 1999	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gweru	Diocese of Masvingo (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 Fort Victoria
1950	27,937	600,000	4.7%	30		30	931			42	33	ap1951
Diocese of Gwelo
1970	162,804	1,287,634	12.6%	12	78	90	1,808		137	197	14	ap1971
1980	210,000	1,809,000	11.6%	13	67	80	2,625		103	183		ap1981
Diocese of Gweru
1990	265,215	2,265,000	11.7%	25	49	74	3,583		83	223	43	ap1991
1999	196,000	1,525,000	12.9%	21	14	35	5,600		45	136	17	ap2000
2000	134,000	1,521,000	8.8%	23	16	39	3,435		43	127	49	ap2001
2001	187,720	2,000,000	9.4%	24	18	42	4,469		68	122	25	ap2002
2002	191,174	2,112,933	9.0%	24	16	40	4,779		56	152	25	ap2003
2003	195,087	2,220,685	8.8%	26	14	40	4,877		56	188	25	ap2004
2004	196,999	2,109,650	9.3%	25	14	39	5,051		65	176	27	ap2005
2006	198,000	2,124,990	9.3%	29	14	43	4,604		58	153	30	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya † (Priest: 28 Aug 1966; Bishop: 3 Feb 1977 to 14 Jan 1987)
• Aloysius Haene, S.M.B. † (Prefect: 28 Mar 1947; Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jun 1950; Bishop: 1 Jan 1955 to 3 Feb 1977)
• Francis Xavier Mugadzi † (Priest: 12 Dec 1964; Bishop: 25 Oct 1988 to 6 Feb 2004)
• Martin Munyanyi (Priest: 3 Sep 1983; Bishop: 11 May 2006 - )