Diocese of Shinyanga

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Bishop(s) Aloysius Balina, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Name Changed: 9 August 1956 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mwanza Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Tanzania, United Republic of Square Kilometers: 30,000 (11,587 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 47, Shinyanga, Tanzania Telephone: (028)276.22.92 Fax: 276.30.40

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
  • Latin Name: Masvaensis
  • Split: 24 June 1950
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

• Diocese of Maswa
  • Latin Name: Masvaensis
  • Elevated: 25 March 1953
  • Country: Tanzania, United Republic of

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (27 Jun 1950 Appointed - 25 Mar 1953 Resigned)
• Edward Aloysius McGurkin, M.M. † (4 Jul 1956 Appointed - 30 Jan 1975 Resigned)
• Castor Sekwa † (30 Jan 1975 Appointed - 4 Jun 1996 Died)
• Aloysius Balina (8 Aug 1997 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
24 June 1950	Split	Vicariate Apostolic of Musoma-Maswa	Prefecture Apostolic of Musoma Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa
Diocese of Maswa
25 March 1953	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Maswa	Diocese of Maswa
Diocese of Shinyanga
9 August 1956	Name Changed	Diocese of Maswa	Diocese of Shinyanga

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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 Maswa
1950	2,733				10	10	273					ap1951
Diocese of Maswa
Diocese of Shinyanga
1970	43,972	741,945	5.9%	5	32	37	1,188		37	18	20	ap1971
1980	71,774	1,260,980	5.7%	6	22	28	2,563		24	27	23	ap1981
1990	113,502	1,694,337	6.7%	12	21	33	3,439		24	38	23	ap1991
1999	185,390	2,127,790	8.7%	28	21	49	3,783		23	51	25	ap2000
2000	190,442	2,197,790	8.7%	29	22	51	3,734		26	51	25	ap2001
2001	209,638	2,350,000	8.9%	28	22	50	4,192		27	59	25	ap2002
2002	235,390	2,247,000	10.5%	31	18	49	4,803		20	44	26	ap2003
2003	245,480	2,267,271	10.8%	31	16	47	5,222		18	44	26	ap2004
2004	284,590	2,001,893	14.2%	29	14	43	6,618		16	41	25	ap2005

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

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Affiliated Bishops

• Aloysius Balina (Priest: 27 Jun 1971 to 8 Nov 1984; Bishop: 8 Aug 1997)
• Joseph Blomjous, M. Afr. † (Apostolic Administrator: 27 Jun 1950 to 25 Mar 1953)
• Edward Aloysius McGurkin, M.M. † (Bishop: 4 Jul 1956 to 30 Jan 1975)
• Castor Sekwa † (Priest: 15 Aug 1959; Bishop: 30 Jan 1975 to 4 Jun 1996)