Diocese of Mendi

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Bishop(s) Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 15 November 1966 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mount Hagen Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Papua New Guinea Square Kilometers: 19,000 (7,338 Square Miles) Web Site: http://www.catholicpng.org.pg/dioc/mendi.html Mailing Address: P.O. Box 69, Mendi, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea Telephone: 54.91.102 Fax: 54.91.169

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Mendi
  • Latin Name: Mendiensis
  • Erected: 13 November 1958
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

• Vicariate Apostolic of Mendi
  • Latin Name: Mendiensis
  • Elevated: 6 July 1965
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Papua New Guinea

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Firmin Martin Schmidt, O.F.M. Cap. † (3 Apr 1959 Appointed - 3 Feb 1995 Retired)
• Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap. (3 Feb 1995 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Mendi
13 November 1958	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Port Moresby	Prefecture Apostolic of Mendi (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Mendi
6 July 1965	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Mendi	Vicariate Apostolic of Mendi
Diocese of Mendi
15 November 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Mendi	Diocese of Mendi
16 January 1971	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bereina Diocese of Mendi	Diocese of Kerema (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
Diocese of Mendi
1970	23,096	235,000	9.8%	4	28	32	721		34	30	9	ap1971
1980	44,906	240,600	18.7%	2	32	34	1,320		52	49	14	ap1981
1990	62,740	260,000	24.1%	3	22	25	2,509		38	50	20	ap1991
1999	81,002	340,000	23.8%	5	22	27	3,000		39	56	31	ap2000
2000	88,365	400,000	22.1%	3	18	21	4,207		33	61	32	ap2001
2001	92,712	415,000	22.3%	3	23	26	3,565		44	61	32	ap2002
2002	69,688	544,352	12.8%	3	22	25	2,787		33	62	16	ap2003
2003	70,794	544,352	13.0%	3	19	22	3,217		31	50	16	ap2004
2004	71,832	546,400	13.1%	5	19	24	2,993		29	48	16	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap. (Bishop: 3 Feb 1995 - )
• Firmin Martin Schmidt, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 3 Apr 1959; Vicar Apostolic: 6 Jul 1965; Bishop: 15 Nov 1966 to 3 Feb 1995)