Bloemfontein (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I., Archbishop
Jabulani Adatus Nxumalo, O.M.I., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Erected: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 64,393 (24,871 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, 7/a White's Road, Waverley, Bloemfontein 9301; P.O. Box 362, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Telephone: (051)448.1658
Fax: 447.2420

Past and Present Ordinaries

Herman Joseph Meysing, O.M.I. † (11 Jan 1951 Appointed - 25 Jun 1954 Resigned)
William Patrick Whelan, O.M.I. † (18 Jul 1954 Appointed - 10 Feb 1966 Died)
Joseph Patrick Fitzgerald, O.M.I. † (6 Aug 1966 Appointed - 24 Jan 1976 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Johannesburg)
Peter Fanyana John Butelezi, O.M.I. † (27 Apr 1978 Appointed - 10 Jun 1997 Died)
Buti Joseph Tlhagale, O.M.I. (2 Jan 1999 Appointed - 8 Apr 2003 Appointed, Archbishop (Personal Title) of Johannesburg)
Jabulani Adatus Nxumalo, O.M.I. (10 Oct 2005 Appointed - 1 Apr 2020 Retired)
Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I. (1 Apr 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
11 January 1951	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Aliwal (Fauresmith, Philippolis, Smithfield, Edenburg, Trompsburg, and Zastron) Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in South Africa {nell’Africa Meridionale} (Bloemfontein, Thabunch, Wetsdorp, Jacobsdal, Boshof, Wepener, Redderburg, and parts of Ladybrand and Hoopstad)	Archdiocese of Bloemfontein (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1959 29,922 361,583 8.3% 20 20 1,496 7 67 13 ap1960

1970 45,107 400,000 11.3% 24 24 1,879 43 74 2 ap1971

1980 56,000 684,000 8.2% 1 21 22 2,545 36 68 18 ap1981

1990 98,537 986,351 10.0% 4 18 22 4,478 29 65 23 ap1991

1997 104,171 1,003,191 10.4% 5 23 28 3,720 1 30 79 40 ap2000

2000 100,918 1,071,537 9.4% 6 17 23 4,387 24 54 30 ap2001

2001 103,138 1,095,111 9.4% 6 18 24 4,297 25 60 30 ap2002

2002 106,142 116,082 91.4% 6 19 25 4,245 26 59 30 ap2003

2003 112,706 123,047 91.6% 8 20 28 4,025 27 60 26 ap2004

2004 113,833 123,185 92.4% 11 21 32 3,557 28 63 28 ap2005

2006 116,700 1,425,000 8.2% 11 17 28 4,167 1 20 62 29 ap2007

2012 103,600 1,464,000 7.1% 16 13 29 3,572 15 63 49 ap2013

2015 120,000 761,000 15.8% 15 12 27 4,444 12 60 48 ap2016

2018 125,560 796,275 15.8% 17 13 30 4,185 13 55 49 ap2019

2020 69,380 699,950 9.9% 18 6 24 2,890 6 58 34 ap2021

2022 71,335 719,690 9.9% 19 5 24 2,972 5 61 32 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1959	29,922	361,583	8.3%		20	20	1,496		7	67	13	ap1960
1970	45,107	400,000	11.3%		24	24	1,879		43	74	2	ap1971
1980	56,000	684,000	8.2%	1	21	22	2,545		36	68	18	ap1981
1990	98,537	986,351	10.0%	4	18	22	4,478		29	65	23	ap1991
1997	104,171	1,003,191	10.4%	5	23	28	3,720	1	30	79	40	ap2000
2000	100,918	1,071,537	9.4%	6	17	23	4,387		24	54	30	ap2001
2001	103,138	1,095,111	9.4%	6	18	24	4,297		25	60	30	ap2002
2002	106,142	116,082	91.4%	6	19	25	4,245		26	59	30	ap2003
2003	112,706	123,047	91.6%	8	20	28	4,025		27	60	26	ap2004
2004	113,833	123,185	92.4%	11	21	32	3,557		28	63	28	ap2005
2006	116,700	1,425,000	8.2%	11	17	28	4,167	1	20	62	29	ap2007
2012	103,600	1,464,000	7.1%	16	13	29	3,572		15	63	49	ap2013
2015	120,000	761,000	15.8%	15	12	27	4,444		12	60	48	ap2016
2018	125,560	796,275	15.8%	17	13	30	4,185		13	55	49	ap2019
2020	69,380	699,950	9.9%	18	6	24	2,890		6	58	34	ap2021
2022	71,335	719,690	9.9%	19	5	24	2,972		5	61	32	ap2023