The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Blantyre (Latin: Archidioecesis Blantyren(sis)) is the Roman Catholic archdiocese for Blantyre in Malawi. The cathedral church of the archdiocese is the Our Lady of Wisdom Cathedral, Blantyre.
Archdiocese of Blantyre Archidioecesis Blantyrensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Malawi |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 9,166 km2 (3,539 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 43 |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | April 25, 1959 |
| Cathedral | Our Lady of Wisdom Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Our Lady Queen of All Hearts |
| Secular priests | 201 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Archbishop | Thomas Luke Msusa |
| Suffragans | Zomba Chikwawa Mangochi |
The Archdiocese of Blantyre is 9,166 square miles (23,740 km2). Out of a total population of 4,600,000, there are 1,133,850 Catholics. There are 78 priests and 287 religious. Currently, Thomas Luke Msusa SMM is the bishop of the diocese.
History
edit- 1903.12.03: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Shiré from Apostolic Vicariate of Nyassa
- 1908.04.14: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Shiré
- 1952.05.15: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Blantyre
- 1959.04.25: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Blantyre
Bishops
editOrdinaries
edit- Prefect Apostolic of Shiré
- Father Auguste Prézeau, S.M.M.:1903.12.03 - 1908.04.18 see below
- Vicars apostolic of Shiré
- Auguste Prézeau, S.M.M.:see above 1908.04.18 - 1909.12.02
- Louis-Joseph-Marie Auneau, S.M.M.:1910.05.09 - 1949.12.25
- John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M.:1949.12.25 – 1952.05.15 see below
- Vicar apostolic of Blantyre (Roman rite)
- John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M.:see above 1952.05.15 – 1959.04.25 see below
- Metropolitan archbishops of Blantyre (Roman rite)
- John Baptist Hubert Theunissen, S.M.M.:see above 1959.04.25 – 1967.10.14
- James Chiona:1967.11.29 – 2001.01.23
- Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye:2001.01.23 - 2013.07.03; transferred to be Archbishop of Lilongwe due to a resignation
- Thomas Luke Msusa:2013.11.21 -
Auxiliary Bishops
edit- James Chiona (1965-1967), appointed Archbishop here
- Montfort Stima (Sitima) (2010-2013), appointed Bishop of Mangochi
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
edit- Peter Martin Musikuwa, appointed Bishop of Chikwawa in 2003