Diocese of Keimoes-Upington

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Bishop(s) Edward Gabriel Risi, O.M.I., Bishop John Baptist Minder, O.S.F.S., Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 8 February 1985 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bloemfontein Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: South Africa Square Kilometers: 272,265 (105,162 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.catholic-keimoes.org.za/ Mailing Address: P.O. Box 323, Keimoes 8860, South Africa Telephone: (054)461.1846

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River
  • Latin Name: Fluminis Orangensis
  • Erected: 20 June 1885
  • Country: South Africa

• Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
  • Latin Name: Fluminis Orangensis
  • Elevated: 2 May 1898
  • Vicariate
  • Country: South Africa

• Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
  • Latin Name: Keimoesanus
  • Name Changed: 9 July 1940
  • Vicariate
  • Country: South Africa

• Diocese of Keimoes
  • Latin Name: Keimoesanus
  • Elevated: 11 January 1951
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
  • Country: South Africa

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Jean-Marie Simon, O.S.F.S. † ( 1886 Appointed - 21 Nov 1932 Died)
• Henry Joseph Thünemann, O.S.F.S. † (9 Jul 1940 Appointed - 12 Sep 1962 Resigned)
• Francis Esser, O.S.F.S. † (12 Sep 1962 Succeeded - 8 Dec 1966 Died)
• John Baptist Minder, O.S.F.S. (12 Oct 1967 Appointed - 5 Jul 2000 Retired)
• Edward Gabriel Risi, O.M.I. (5 Jul 2000 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River
20 June 1885	Erected	Prefecture Apostolic of Cape of Good Hope, Central District {Capo di Buona Speranza, Distretto Centrale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
2 May 1898	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Orange River	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River
7 July 1909	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River	Prefecture Apostolic of Great Namaqualand (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
9 July 1940	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Orange River	Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes
Diocese of Keimoes
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Keimoes	Diocese of Keimoes
Diocese of Keimoes-Upington
8 February 1985	Name Changed	Diocese of Keimoes	Diocese of Keimoes-Upington

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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 Keimoes
1950	15,913	105,725	15.1%		25	25	636		3	57		ap1951
Diocese of Keimoes
1970	31,751				32	32	992		43	52	20	ap1971
1980	42,867	363,067	11.8%		26	26	1,648		35	46	20	ap1981
Diocese of Keimoes-Upington
1990	54,869	605,030	9.1%	3	20	23	2,385	3	28	53	21	ap1991
1999	68,638	317,343	21.6%	4	13	17	4,037	3	16	44	21	ap2000
2000	69,633	318,288	21.9%	6	16	22	3,165	3	19	41	21	ap2001
2001	71,172	322,172	22.1%	6	15	21	3,389	3	18	41	22	ap2002
2002	53,464	325,437	16.4%	8	14	22	2,430	3	16	41	23	ap2003
2003	52,178	325,437	16.0%	9	14	23	2,268	2	23	44	23	ap2004
2004	60,501	331,984	18.2%	8	14	22	2,750	2	18	43	23	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Francis Esser, O.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 1956; Bishop: 12 Sep 1962 to 8 Dec 1966)
• Odilon Fages, O.S.F.S. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jun 1928; Vicar Apostolic: 21 Nov 1932 to 14 Oct 1939)
• Anthony Gaughren, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jun 1886 to 15 Jan 1901)
• John Baptist Minder, O.S.F.S. (Bishop: 12 Oct 1967 to 5 Jul 2000)
• Edward Gabriel Risi, O.M.I. (Bishop: 5 Jul 2000 - )
• Jean-Marie Simon, O.S.F.S. † (Prefect: 1886; Vicar Apostolic: 3 May 1898 to 21 Nov 1932)
• Henry Joseph Thünemann, O.S.F.S. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Jul 1940; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 12 Sep 1962)