Umtata (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Sithembele Anton Sipuka, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Durban
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 23,400 (9,038 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://dioceseofmthatha.mariannhillmedia.org/
Mailing Address: 19 Craister Street, Mthatha 5100, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Telephone: (047)532.6301
Fax: (same)

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata
- Latin Name: de Umtata
- Erected: 30 March 1930
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Umtata
- Latin Name: de Umtata
- Elevated: 13 April 1937
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Emmanuel Hanisch, C.M.M. † (28 Oct 1930 Appointed - 28 Feb 1940 Died)
Joseph Grueter, C.M.M. † (3 Apr 1941 Appointed - 26 Sep 1968 Resigned)
Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M. † (26 Sep 1968 Appointed - 9 May 1974 Appointed, Bishop of Bulawayo)
Peter Fanyana John Butelezi, O.M.I. † (10 Jul 1975 Appointed - 27 Apr 1978 Appointed, Archbishop of Bloemfontein)
Andrew Zolile T. Brook † (12 Feb 1979 Appointed - 7 Jan 1995 Resigned)
Oswald Georg Hirmer † (21 Apr 1997 Appointed - 8 Feb 2008 Retired)
Sithembele Anton Sipuka (8 Feb 2008 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata
30 March 1930	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill (Southern region)	Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata (erected)
10 January 1933	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Queenstown
Vicariate Apostolic of Umtata
13 April 1937	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata	Vicariate Apostolic of Umtata
Diocese of Umtata
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Umtata	Diocese of Umtata
7 February 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Umtata (St Mark’s, Tsomo, Ngqamakhwe, Butterworth, Dutywa, Centane, and Willowvale)	Diocese of Queenstown

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 Umtata

1950 14,298 832,018 1.7% 2 22 24 595 7 155 16 ap1951

Diocese of Umtata

1970 36,862 750,000 4.9% 6 26 32 1,151 35 186 ap1971

1980 46,149 1,033,000 4.5% 8 19 27 1,709 31 180 22 ap1981

1990 56,286 918,000 6.1% 8 18 26 2,164 32 164 21 ap1991

1999 76,674 4,600,000 1.7% 11 17 28 2,738 36 148 22 ap2000

2000 98,891 1,680,000 5.9% 11 16 27 3,662 23 141 22 ap2001

2001 62,281 1,683,400 3.7% 11 16 27 2,306 29 148 22 ap2002

2002 63,409 1,700,500 3.7% 11 17 28 2,264 27 124 23 ap2003

2003 62,294 1,717,676 3.6% 12 15 27 2,307 28 125 23 ap2004

2004 68,198 1,717,676 4.0% 12 15 27 2,525 28 164 23 ap2005

2010 73,000 1,805,000 4.0% 10 10 20 3,650 13 101 159 ap2011

2014 75,600 1,867,000 4.0% 16 11 27 2,800 19 90 22 ap2015

2017 25,672 1,971,640 1.3% 16 8 24 1,069 9 71 23 ap2018

2020 38,560 2,061,300 1.9% 16 16 2,410 3 69 23 ap2021

2022 38,600 2,121,000 1.8% 8 1 9 4,288 4 63 23 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Umtata
1950	14,298	832,018	1.7%	2	22	24	595	7	155	16	ap1951
Diocese of Umtata
1970	36,862	750,000	4.9%	6	26	32	1,151	35	186		ap1971
1980	46,149	1,033,000	4.5%	8	19	27	1,709	31	180	22	ap1981
1990	56,286	918,000	6.1%	8	18	26	2,164	32	164	21	ap1991
1999	76,674	4,600,000	1.7%	11	17	28	2,738	36	148	22	ap2000
2000	98,891	1,680,000	5.9%	11	16	27	3,662	23	141	22	ap2001
2001	62,281	1,683,400	3.7%	11	16	27	2,306	29	148	22	ap2002
2002	63,409	1,700,500	3.7%	11	17	28	2,264	27	124	23	ap2003
2003	62,294	1,717,676	3.6%	12	15	27	2,307	28	125	23	ap2004
2004	68,198	1,717,676	4.0%	12	15	27	2,525	28	164	23	ap2005
2010	73,000	1,805,000	4.0%	10	10	20	3,650	13	101	159	ap2011
2014	75,600	1,867,000	4.0%	16	11	27	2,800	19	90	22	ap2015
2017	25,672	1,971,640	1.3%	16	8	24	1,069	9	71	23	ap2018
2020	38,560	2,061,300	1.9%	16		16	2,410	3	69	23	ap2021
2022	38,600	2,121,000	1.8%	8	1	9	4,288	4	63	23	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Andrew Zolile T. Brook † (Bishop: 12 Feb 1979 to 7 Jan 1995)
Peter Fanyana John Butelezi, O.M.I. † (Bishop: 10 Jul 1975 to 27 Apr 1978)
Joseph Grueter, C.M.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 3 Apr 1941; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 26 Sep 1968)
Emmanuel Hanisch, C.M.M. † (Prefect: 28 Oct 1930; Vicar Apostolic: 13 Apr 1937 to 28 Feb 1940)
Oswald Georg Hirmer † (Bishop: 21 Apr 1997 to 8 Feb 2008)
Ernst Heinrich Karlen, C.M.M. † (Bishop: 26 Sep 1968 to 9 May 1974)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Umtata
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 22, Page 483
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 23, Page 41, and Page 42
Vicariate Apostolic of Umtata
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 29, Page 327, and Page 328
Diocese of Umtata
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

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Diocese of Umtata

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