The Diocese of Aliwal (Latin: Alivalen(sis)) is a Latin Catholic diocese located in the city of Aliwal North (Joe Gqabi District Municipality) in the ecclesiastical province of Cape Town in South Africa.[1]

Diocese of Aliwal

Dioecesis Alivalensis
Location
Country South Africa
MetropolitanCape Town
Statistics
Area31,200 km2 (12,000 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2007)
  • 536,000
  • 42,300 (7.9%)
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopJoseph Kizito
Bishops emeritusMichael Wüstenberg

History

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  • June 12, 1923: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Gariep from the Apostolic Vicariate of Cape of Good Hope, Eastern District[2]
  • January 27, 1936: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Aliwal [3]
  • January 11, 1951: Promoted as Diocese of Aliwal
  • 1953: the Diocese was split into two parts, the “Diocese of Aliwal” and the “Prefecture of De Aar” [3]
  • 2019: the Diocese had two active parishes, three missions and 12 priests [3]

Special churches

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  • Sacred Heart Cathedral is situated on the corner of Cathcart and Young Streets in Aliwal North.[4]

Leadership

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Prefect Apostolic of Gariep
Vicars Apostolic of Aliwal
  • Franz Wolfgang Demont, S.C.I. (see above 27 January 1936 – 3 February 1944)
  • Johannes Baptist Lück, S.C.I. (13 March 1947 – 11 January 1951 see below)
Bishops of Aliwal

See also

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References

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  1. "Diocese of Aliwal". Catholic Directory. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  2. "100 years for Aliwal North Diocese". Southern Cross magazine. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Uganda's Gift of Faith to South Africa: Msgr. Joseph Kizito". AMECEA. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  4. "Sacred Heart Cathedral". Artefacts South Africa. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  5. "Bishop Fritz Lobinger, Rest in Peace". Southern Cross. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  6. "Resignations and Appointments, 15.11.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
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