Diocese of Molegbe

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Bishop(s) Vacant Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu, Bishop Emeritus Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M., Bishop Emeritus

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 10 November 1959 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of Square Kilometers: 79,000 (30,513 Square Miles) Mailing Address: B.P. 74, Gbado-Lite, Equateur, Rep. Democratique du Congo

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
  • Erected: 7 April 1911
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

• Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
  • Latin Name: de Ubanghi Belgico
  • Elevated: 28 January 1935
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Congo, The Democratic Republic of

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Fulgenzio da Gerard-Montes, O.F.M. Cap. † ( 1911 Appointed - )
• Basile Octave Tanghe, O.F.M. Cap. † (16 Oct 1931 Appointed - 16 Dec 1947 Died)
• Jean Ghislain Delcuve, O.F.M. Cap. † (10 Jun 1948 Appointed - 13 Nov 1958 Resigned)
• Léon Théobald Delaere, O.F.M. Cap. † (13 Nov 1958 Appointed - 3 Aug 1967 Resigned)
• Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu (5 Sep 1968 Appointed - 18 Oct 1997 Resigned)
• Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. (27 Jun 1998 Appointed - 23 May 2007 Retired)

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
7 April 1911	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
28 January 1935	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}	Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
Diocese of Molegbe
10 November 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}	Diocese of Molegbe

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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 Ubanghi Belga {Belgian Ubanghi}
1950	95,121	500,000	19.0%	1	38	39	2,439		77	32		ap1951
Diocese of Molegbe
1970	263,268	600,000	43.9%	11	55	66	3,988		73	83	4	ap1971
1980	360,230	877,000	41.1%	10	48	58	6,210		68	82	22	ap1981
1990	695,228	1,148,949	60.5%	24	38	62	11,213		115	60	21	ap1991
1997	1,879,566	3,761,732	50.0%	39	22	61	30,812		32	66	22	ap2003

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Fulgenzio da Gerard-Montes, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 1911 - )
• Léon Théobald Delaere, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Nov 1958; Bishop: 10 Nov 1959 to 3 Aug 1967)
• Jean Ghislain Delcuve, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jun 1948 to 13 Nov 1958)
• Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu (Priest: 20 Jul 1957; Bishop: 5 Sep 1968 to 18 Oct 1997)
• Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M. (Bishop: 27 Jun 1998 to 23 May 2007)
• Basile Octave Tanghe, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 16 Oct 1931; Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jan 1935 to 16 Dec 1947)