Diocese of Mpika

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Bishop(s) Vacant

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 9 September 1994 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kasama Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Zambia Square Kilometers: 120,000 (46,350 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.diompika.org/ Mailing Address: P.O. Box 450007, Mpika, Zambia Telephone: (04)370.273 Fax: 370.112

Historical Details

• Mission "Sui Iuris" of Lwangwa
  • Erected: 23 May 1933
  • Country: Zambia

• Vicariate Apostolic of Lwangwa
  • Latin Name: de Lwangwa
  • Elevated: 1 July 1937
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Zambia

• Vicariate Apostolic of Abercorn
  • Latin Name: Abercornensis
  • Name Changed: 8 March 1951
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Zambia

• Diocese of Abercorn
  • Latin Name: Abercornensis
  • Elevated: 25 April 1959
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Lusaka
  • Country: Zambia

• Diocese of Mbala
  • Latin Name: Malaensis
  • Name Changed: 22 November 1967
  • Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kasama
  • Country: Zambia

• Diocese of Mbala-Mpika
  • Latin Name: Malaensis-Mpikaensis
  • Name Changed: 26 April 1991
  • Country: Zambia

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Heinrich Horst, M. Afr. † (21 May 1938 Appointed - 17 Sep 1946 Died)
• Joost (Joseph) Van den Biesen, M. Afr. † (12 Feb 1948 Appointed - 24 Jan 1958 Resigned)
• Adolf Fürstenberg, M. Afr. † (11 Dec 1958 Appointed - 21 Jun 1987 Retired)
• Telesphore George Mpundu (7 Mar 1987 Appointed - 1 Oct 2004 Appointed, Coadjutor Archbishop of Lusaka)

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Mission "Sui Iuris" of Lwangwa
23 May 1933	Erected		Mission "Sui Iuris" of Lwangwa (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Lwangwa
1 July 1937	Elevated	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Lwangwa	Vicariate Apostolic of Lwangwa
Vicariate Apostolic of Abercorn
8 March 1951	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Lwangwa	Vicariate Apostolic of Abercorn
Diocese of Abercorn
25 April 1959	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Abercorn	Diocese of Abercorn
Diocese of Mbala
22 November 1967	Name Changed	Diocese of Abercorn	Diocese of Mbala
Diocese of Mbala-Mpika
26 April 1991	Name Changed	Diocese of Mbala	Diocese of Mbala-Mpika
Diocese of Mpika
9 September 1994	Name Changed	Diocese of Mbala-Mpika	Diocese of Mpika

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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 Lwangwa
1950	39,153	197,891	19.8%	1	28	29	1,350			4	9	ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Abercorn
Diocese of Abercorn
1959	45,017	274,123	16.4%	5	33	38	1,184		319	16	11	ap1960
Diocese of Mbala
1970	63,980	384,207	16.7%	13	38	51	1,254		50	38		ap1971
1980	73,200	367,000	19.9%	12	26	38	1,926		33	40		ap1981
1990	110,445	545,000	20.3%	23	27	50	2,208		36	65		ap1991
Diocese of Mbala-Mpika
Diocese of Mpika
1999	169,579	650,000	26.1%	25	19	44	3,854		24	64		ap2000
2000	105,500	550,150	19.2%	23	12	35	3,014		31	46		ap2001
2001	108,930	543,857	20.0%	20	13	33	3,300		28	50		ap2002
2002	111,010	451,052	24.6%	21	14	35	3,171		29	52		ap2003
2003	113,519	471,352	24.1%	24	13	37	3,068		29	44	1	ap2004
2004	128,977	494,187	26.1%	23	15	38	3,394		30	55	1	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Telesphore George Mpundu (Bishop: 7 Mar 1987 to 1 Oct 2004)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Adolf Fürstenberg, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Dec 1958; Bishop: 25 Apr 1959 to 21 Jun 1987)
• Heinrich Horst, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 21 May 1938 to 17 Sep 1946)
• Joost (Joseph) Van den Biesen, M. Afr. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1948 to 24 Jan 1958)