Diocese of Isiro-Niangara

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Bishop(s) Julien Andavo Mbia, Bishop Emile Aiti Waro Leru’a, Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 23 March 1970 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. 320, Isiro, Haut-Congo, Rep. Democratique du Congo Telephone: 810.001.662 Fax: 813.464.311

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
  • Erected: 18 December 1911
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
  • Elevated: 6 May 1924
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
  • Latin Name: Niangaraensis
  • Name Changed: 14 December 1926
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Diocese of Niangara
  • Latin Name: Niangaraensis
  • Elevated: 10 November 1959
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kisangani
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Reginaldo van Schoote, O.P. † ( 1912 Appointed - 1922 Died)
• Robert Constant Lagae, O.P. † (18 Dec 1924 Appointed - Feb 1948 Resigned)
• François-Odon De Wilde, O.P. † (11 Mar 1948 Appointed - 19 Feb 1976 Died)
• Ambroise Uma Arakayo Amabe † (19 Feb 1976 Succeeded - 1 Apr 1989 Died)
• Emile Aiti Waro Leru’a (25 Sep 1989 Appointed - 24 Mar 1994 Resigned)
• Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (6 Dec 1995 Appointed - 13 Mar 2001 Appointed, Archbishop of Bukavu)
• Julien Andavo Mbia (1 Feb 2003 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
18 December 1911	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Uélé / Wellé	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
6 May 1924	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}
Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
14 December 1926	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Uélé {Uélé Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara
24 February 1958	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara	Prefecture Apostolic of Doruma (erected)
Diocese of Niangara
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Niangara	Diocese of Niangara
Diocese of Isiro-Niangara
23 March 1970	Name Changed	Diocese of Niangara	Diocese of Isiro-Niangara

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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 Niangara
1950	90,220	562,182	16.0%	5	58	63	1,432		7	77		ap1951
Diocese of Niangara
Diocese of Isiro-Niangara
1970	183,486	445,923	41.1%	14	45	59	3,109		60	92	17	ap1971
1980	300,070	514,764	58.3%	13	53	66	4,546		65	122	19	ap1981
1990	407,863	723,000	56.4%	36	42	78	5,229		63	133	20	ap1991
1999	526,197	728,119	72.3%	57	42	99	5,315		48	161	19	ap2000
2000	500,482	696,292	71.9%	76	30	106	4,721		37	155	19	ap2001
2001	518,875	705,233	73.6%	77	31	108	4,804		42	175	19	ap2002
2002	720,880	902,802	79.8%	61	27	88	8,191		35	173	20	ap2003
2003	525,102	830,333	63.2%	62	29	91	5,770		38	164	19	ap2004
2004	997,620	1,415,730	70.5%	68	31	99	10,076		46	185	21	ap2005
2006	1,038,778	1,475,128	70.4%	64	31	95	10,934		52	174	20	ap2007

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Emile Aiti Waro Leru’a (Bishop: 25 Sep 1989 to 24 Mar 1994)
• Julien Andavo Mbia (Priest: 26 Aug 1979; Bishop: 1 Feb 2003 - )

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Ambroise Uma Arakayo Amabe † (Coadjutor Bishop: 6 May 1972; Bishop: 19 Feb 1976 to 1 Apr 1989)
• François-Odon De Wilde, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1948; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 19 Feb 1976)
• Robert Constant Lagae, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 18 Dec 1924 to Feb 1948)
• Charles Kambale Mbogha, A.A. † (Bishop: 6 Dec 1995 to 13 Mar 2001)
• Emilio Rolin, O.P. † (Prefect: 1922 to 1924)
• Reginaldo van Schoote, O.P. † (Prefect: 1912 to 1922)