Witbank (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Name Changed: 10 November 1987
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Johannesburg
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 56,886 (21,972 Square Miles)
Description: Barberton, Belfast, Carolina, Kamhlushwa, Lydenburg, Mapulaneng, Mhala, Middelburg, Nebo, Nelspruit, Nsikazi, Pilgrim’s Rest, Sekhukhune, Waterval-Boven, White River, Witbank, and portions of Eerstehoek and Groblersdal
Official Web Site: http://dioceseofwitbank.mariannhillmedia.org/
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 651, 13 Elizabeth Ave., Witbank 1035, Transvaal, South Africa
Telephone: (013)656.68.27
Fax: (086)685.51.76

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg
- Latin Name: Lydenburgensis
- Erected: 12 June 1923
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Lydenburg
- Latin Name: Lydenburgensis
- Elevated: 9 December 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa
Diocese of Lydenburg
- Latin Name: Lydenburgensis
- Elevated: 11 January 1951
- Country: South Africa
Diocese of Lydenburg-Witbank
- Latin Name: Lydenburgensis-Vitbankensis
- Name Changed: 13 September 1964
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Pretoria
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Daniel Kauczor, M.F.S.C. † (27 Jul 1923 Appointed - 1926 Resigned)
Alois Mohn, M.F.S.C. † (10 Dec 1926 Appointed - 1939 Resigned)
Johannes Riegler, M.F.S.C. † (30 Jun 1939 Appointed - 6 Oct 1955 Died)
Anton Reiterer, M.C.C.I. † (29 Feb 1956 Appointed - 25 Feb 1983 Retired)
Mogale Paul Nkhumishe † (9 Jan 1984 Appointed - 17 Feb 2000 Appointed, Bishop of Pietersburg)
Paul Mandla Khumalo, C.M.M. (2 Oct 2001 Appointed - 24 Nov 2008 Appointed, Archbishop of Pretoria)
Giuseppe Sandri, M.C.C.I. † (6 Nov 2009 Appointed - 30 May 2019 Died)
Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo (25 Nov 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg
12 June 1923	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Transvaal (Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga))	Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg (erected) (Lydenburg, Barbeton, Carolina, Middelburg, Béthal, Ermelo, Piet Retief, WaMerstroom, and Standerton)
13 July 1938	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe (Tongaland) Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg (Piet Retief)	Prefecture Apostolic of Swaziland
Vicariate Apostolic of Lydenburg
9 December 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg	Vicariate Apostolic of Lydenburg
Diocese of Lydenburg
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Lydenburg	Diocese of Lydenburg
23 June 1958	Territory Lost	Diocese of Bremersdorp (Piet Retief) Archdiocese of Durban (Newcastle, Utrecht, Dundee, Klip Eivier, Helpmekaar, and parts of Msinga, Weenan, and Bergville north of Tugela river) Diocese of Lydenburg (Ermelo, Bethal, Standerton, Volksrust, Amersfoort, and Wakkerstroom)	Prefecture Apostolic of Volksrust (erected)
Diocese of Lydenburg-Witbank
13 September 1964	Name Changed	Diocese of Lydenburg	Diocese of Lydenburg-Witbank
Diocese of Witbank
10 November 1987	Name Changed	Diocese of Lydenburg-Witbank	Diocese of Witbank
5 June 2007	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Witbank (from Pretoria)

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 Lydenburg

1950 7,650 795,000 1.0% 30 30 255 18 61 14 ap1951

Diocese of Lydenburg

Diocese of Lydenburg-Witbank

1970 30,500 1,060,000 2.9% 6 39 45 677 60 95 22 ap1971

1980 77,000 1,310,000 5.9% 6 30 36 2,138 49 95 20 ap1981

Diocese of Witbank

1990 156,500 2,300,000 6.8% 7 20 27 5,796 10 28 90 20 ap1991

1999 105,000 2,585,000 4.1% 11 26 37 2,837 9 31 63 20 ap2000

2000 105,000 2,642,000 4.0% 12 24 36 2,916 8 27 62 20 ap2001

2001 105,000 2,461,000 4.3% 14 24 38 2,763 8 27 62 20 ap2002

2002 105,000 2,461,000 4.3% 13 24 37 2,837 8 27 61 20 ap2003

2003 105,000 2,461,000 4.3% 13 22 35 3,000 7 24 61 20 ap2004

2004 103,278 2,528,000 4.1% 16 25 41 2,518 8 26 62 20 ap2005

2010 106,900 2,674,000 4.0% 17 17 34 3,144 5 17 52 22 ap2011

2014 111,500 2,783,000 4.0% 17 15 32 3,484 4 17 59 22 ap2015

2017 117,700 2,938,780 4.0% 18 18 36 3,269 14 22 58 23 ap2018

2020 122,540 3,061,000 4.0% 26 10 36 3,403 14 13 54 23 ap2021

2022 126,000 3,147,000 4.0% 17 14 31 4,064 14 16 46 23 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 Lydenburg
1950	7,650	795,000	1.0%		30	30	255		18	61	14	ap1951
Diocese of Lydenburg
Diocese of Lydenburg-Witbank
1970	30,500	1,060,000	2.9%	6	39	45	677		60	95	22	ap1971
1980	77,000	1,310,000	5.9%	6	30	36	2,138		49	95	20	ap1981
Diocese of Witbank
1990	156,500	2,300,000	6.8%	7	20	27	5,796	10	28	90	20	ap1991
1999	105,000	2,585,000	4.1%	11	26	37	2,837	9	31	63	20	ap2000
2000	105,000	2,642,000	4.0%	12	24	36	2,916	8	27	62	20	ap2001
2001	105,000	2,461,000	4.3%	14	24	38	2,763	8	27	62	20	ap2002
2002	105,000	2,461,000	4.3%	13	24	37	2,837	8	27	61	20	ap2003
2003	105,000	2,461,000	4.3%	13	22	35	3,000	7	24	61	20	ap2004
2004	103,278	2,528,000	4.1%	16	25	41	2,518	8	26	62	20	ap2005
2010	106,900	2,674,000	4.0%	17	17	34	3,144	5	17	52	22	ap2011
2014	111,500	2,783,000	4.0%	17	15	32	3,484	4	17	59	22	ap2015
2017	117,700	2,938,780	4.0%	18	18	36	3,269	14	22	58	23	ap2018
2020	122,540	3,061,000	4.0%	26	10	36	3,403	14	13	54	23	ap2021
2022	126,000	3,147,000	4.0%	17	14	31	4,064	14	16	46	23	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Daniel Kauczor, M.F.S.C. † (Prefect: 27 Jul 1923 to 1926)
Alois Mohn, M.F.S.C. † (Prefect: 10 Dec 1926 to 1939)
Mogale Paul Nkhumishe † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Nov 1981; Bishop: 9 Jan 1984 to 17 Feb 2000)
Anton Reiterer, M.C.C.I. † (Bishop: 29 Feb 1956 to 25 Feb 1983)
Johannes Riegler, M.F.S.C. † (Prefect: 30 Jun 1939; Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1948; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 6 Oct 1955)
Giuseppe Sandri, M.C.C.I. † (Bishop: 6 Nov 2009 to 30 May 2019)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Lydenburg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 15, Page 492, and Page 493
Vicariate Apostolic of Lydenburg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 41, Page 167, and Page 168
Diocese of Lydenburg
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

Diocese of Witbank

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 80, Page 1,038, and Page 1,039
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 99, Page 582, and Page 583

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Diocese of Witbank

Dioecesis Vitbankensis