Atambua (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Dominikus Saku, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 3 January 1961
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Kupang
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Indonesia
Square Kilometers: 5,177 (1,999 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://keuskupanatambua.org/
Mailing Address: Keuskupan, Jl. Nela Raya 15, Lalian Tolu, Atambua 85702, Timor, Indonesia
Telephone: (0389)25.13.017
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Timor Olandese
- Latin Name: de Timor Neerlandica
- Erected: 25 May 1936
- Vicariate
- Country: Indonesia
Vicariate Apostolic of Atambua
- Latin Name: Atambuensis
- Name Changed: 11 November 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Indonesia
- Square Kilometers: 20,000 (7,725 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jacques Pessers, S.V.D. † (1 Jun 1937 Appointed - 14 Nov 1957 Resigned)
Theodorus van den Tillaart, S.V.D. † (14 Nov 1957 Appointed - 3 Feb 1984 Retired)
Anton Pain Ratu, S.V.D. † (3 Feb 1984 Appointed - 2 Jun 2007 Retired)
Dominikus Saku (2 Jun 2007 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Timor Olandese
25 May 1936	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Isole della Piccola Sonda (Part of Timor (Dutch), islands of Boti, Savoie, Alor, and Pantar)	Vicariate Apostolic of Timor Olandese (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Atambua
11 November 1948	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Timor Olandese	Vicariate Apostolic of Atambua
8 March 1951	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Atambua (Pantar and Alor islands) Vicariate Apostolic of Isole della Piccola Sonda (Larantukan)	Vicariate Apostolic of Larantuka (erected)
Diocese of Atambua
3 January 1961	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Atambua	Diocese of Atambua
13 April 1967	Territory Lost	Diocese of Atambua (Timor Tenggah and Kupang along with the islands of Semau, Roti, and Sawu)	Diocese of Kupang (erected)
23 October 1989	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Atambua (from Ende)

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 Atambua

1950 87,184 533,300 16.3% 38 38 2,294 4 15 14 ap1951

Diocese of Atambua

1970 216,539 270,951 79.9% 2 44 46 4,707 1 63 80 ap1971

1980 276,928 313,048 88.5% 12 45 57 4,858 89 99 30 ap1981

1990 365,741 394,499 92.7% 36 33 69 5,300 157 86 35 ap1991

1999 409,230 438,827 93.3% 71 38 109 3,754 152 160 39 ap2000

2000 421,715 451,912 93.3% 64 40 104 4,054 185 197 40 ap2001

2001 427,519 456,720 93.6% 66 42 108 3,958 112 197 40 ap2002

2002 442,400 472,150 93.7% 70 56 126 3,511 206 197 43 ap2003

2003 462,734 487,767 94.9% 75 48 123 3,762 158 198 48 ap2004

2004 475,775 493,044 96.5% 81 51 132 3,604 154 288 53 ap2005

2006 478,508 503,508 95.0% 94 49 143 3,346 159 205 54 ap2007

2012 553,712 561,000 98.7% 130 54 184 3,009 119 265 56 ap2013

2015 536,127 624,267 85.9% 145 71 216 2,482 136 307 61 ap2016

2018 551,820 649,820 84.9% 148 76 224 2,463 139 310 60 ap2019

2020 556,179 663,420 83.8% 155 65 220 2,528 126 294 67 ap2021

2022 553,792 660,000 83.9% 159 48 207 2,675 112 210 66 ap2023

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 Atambua
1950	87,184	533,300	16.3%		38	38	2,294		4	15	14	ap1951
Diocese of Atambua
1970	216,539	270,951	79.9%	2	44	46	4,707	1	63	80		ap1971
1980	276,928	313,048	88.5%	12	45	57	4,858		89	99	30	ap1981
1990	365,741	394,499	92.7%	36	33	69	5,300		157	86	35	ap1991
1999	409,230	438,827	93.3%	71	38	109	3,754		152	160	39	ap2000
2000	421,715	451,912	93.3%	64	40	104	4,054		185	197	40	ap2001
2001	427,519	456,720	93.6%	66	42	108	3,958		112	197	40	ap2002
2002	442,400	472,150	93.7%	70	56	126	3,511		206	197	43	ap2003
2003	462,734	487,767	94.9%	75	48	123	3,762		158	198	48	ap2004
2004	475,775	493,044	96.5%	81	51	132	3,604		154	288	53	ap2005
2006	478,508	503,508	95.0%	94	49	143	3,346		159	205	54	ap2007
2012	553,712	561,000	98.7%	130	54	184	3,009		119	265	56	ap2013
2015	536,127	624,267	85.9%	145	71	216	2,482		136	307	61	ap2016
2018	551,820	649,820	84.9%	148	76	224	2,463		139	310	60	ap2019
2020	556,179	663,420	83.8%	155	65	220	2,528		126	294	67	ap2021
2022	553,792	660,000	83.9%	159	48	207	2,675		112	210	66	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Anton Pain Ratu, S.V.D. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Apr 1982; Bishop: 3 Feb 1984 to 2 Jun 2007)
Jacques Pessers, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1 Jun 1937 to 14 Nov 1957)
Theodorus van den Tillaart, S.V.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 14 Nov 1957; Bishop: 3 Jan 1961 to 3 Feb 1984)