Archdiocese of Maseru

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Bishop(s) Bernard Mohlalisi, O.M.I., Archbishop Suffragan Dioceses Leribe Mohale's Hoek Qacha's Nek

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 3 January 1961 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Lesotho Square Kilometers: 7,739 (2,989 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 267, 19 Orpen Rd., Maseru 100, Lesotho Telephone: 31.25.65 Fax: 31.04.25

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland
  • Latin Name: Basutolandensis
  • Erected: 8 May 1894
  • Country: Lesotho

• Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
  • Latin Name: Basutolandensis
  • Elevated: 18 February 1909
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Lesotho
  • Square Kilometers: 30,000 (11,587 Square Miles)

• Diocese of Maseru
  • Latin Name: Maseruenus
  • Elevated: 11 January 1951
  • Country: Lesotho

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I. † ( 1897 Appointed - 24 May 1930 Resigned)
• Joseph Bonhomme, O.M.I. † (25 Apr 1933 Appointed - 8 Mar 1947 Resigned)
• Joseph Delphis Des Rosiers, O.M.I. † (11 Mar 1948 Appointed - 3 Jan 1961 Appointed, Bishop of Qacha's Nek)
• Emanuel Mabathoama, O.M.I. † (3 Jan 1961 Appointed - 20 Sep 1966 Died)
• Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I. † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 17 May 1989 Died)
• Bernard Mohlalisi, O.M.I. (11 Jun 1990 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland
8 May 1894	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange	Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
18 February 1909	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland	Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
Diocese of Maseru
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland	Diocese of Maseru
11 December 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Maseru	Diocese of Leribe (erected)
3 January 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Maseru	Diocese of Qacha's Nek (erected)
Archdiocese of Maseru
3 January 1961	Elevated	Diocese of Maseru	Archdiocese of Maseru
10 November 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Maseru	Diocese of Mohale's Hoek (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 Basutoland
1950	190,650	560,550	34.0%	4	118	122	1,562		97	440	44	ap1951
Diocese of Maseru
Archdiocese of Maseru
1969	228,417	547,332	41.7%	6	100	106	2,154		187	400	41	ap1971
1980	223,000	402,000	55.5%	6	56	62	3,596		114	307	30	ap1981
1990	264,452	464,696	56.9%	11	79	90	2,938		109	283	31	ap1991
1999	265,034	464,862	57.0%	25	41	66	4,015		95	265	33	ap2000
2000	245,402	469,510	52.3%	27	46	73	3,361		97	254	35	ap2001
2001	246,629	471,857	52.3%	32	43	75	3,288		98	288	35	ap2002
2002	246,752	472,092	52.3%	31	46	77	3,204		96	283	41	ap2003
2003	246,875	472,328	52.3%	31	49	80	3,085		105	278	41	ap2004
2004	246,998	472,564	52.3%	30	52	82	3,012		115	275	41	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Joseph Bonhomme, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Apr 1933 to 8 Mar 1947)
• Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 1897; Vicar Apostolic: 25 Jan 1909 to 24 May 1930)
• Joseph Delphis Des Rosiers, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1948; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 3 Jan 1961)
• Emanuel Mabathoama, O.M.I. † (Archbishop: 3 Jan 1961 to 20 Sep 1966)
• Bernard Mohlalisi, O.M.I. (Archbishop: 11 Jun 1990 - )
• Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I. † (Archbishop: 13 Apr 1967 to 17 May 1989)