Diocese of Wau, South Sudan

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Wau / Vaven(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Juba

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1913.05.30: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Bahr el-Ghazal / de Bahr el-Ghazal (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Central Africa)
1917.06.13: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Bahr el-Ghazal / de Bahr el-Ghazal (Latin)
1923.06.12: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Equatorial Nile
1949.03.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Mupoi
1955.07.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Rumbek
1961.05.26: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Wau / Vaven(sis) (Latin)
1974.12.12: Promoted as Diocese of Wau / Vaven(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Juba)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.11.18 – ...):

Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku, M.C.C.J. (52)

Vice-President of Conference of Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan

Ordinaries

Bishops of Wau (Roman Rite)

Bishop Matthew Remijio Adam Gbitiku, M.C.C.J. (52)
(2020.11.18 – ...)

Bishop of Wau (South Sudan)
Vice-President of Conference of Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan

Born:	1972.05.05 (Mboro, South Sudan)
Ordained Priest:	2004.10.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.01.24

Bishop of Wau (South Sudan) (2020.11.18 – ...)

Vice-President of Conference of Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan (2024.01 – ...)

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla (61) (later Cardinal)
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.09.21 – 2020.11.18)

Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak
(1995.11.02 – 2017.03.06)

Born:	1940.11.01 (Sudan)
Ordained Priest:	1970.11.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1996.02.11
Died:	2017.03.06 († 76)

Apostolic Administrator of Wau (South Sudan) (1992.04.12 – 1995.11.02)

Bishop of Wau (South Sudan) (1995.11.02 – 2017.03.06)

President of Sudan Bishops’ Conference (2006? – 2011.12.31)

Fr. Rudolf Deng Majak (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1992.04.12 – 1995.11.02)

Bishop Joseph Bilal Nyekindi
(1980.10.24 – 1995.11.02)

Born:	1944 (Sudan)
Ordained Priest:	1969.05.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.02.01
Died:	1996.11.23 († 51)

Bishop of Wau (South Sudan) (1980.10.24 – 1995.11.02)

Bishop Gabriel Zubeir Wako (83) (later Cardinal)
(1974.12.12 – 1979.10.30)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Atanasio a Via Tiburtina
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Khartoum (Sudan)

The truth will set you free

Born:	1941.02.27 (Mboro, Sudan)
Ordained Priest:	1963.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.04.06
Created Cardinal:	2003.10.21

Priest of Wau (South Sudan) (1963.07.21 – 1974.12.12)

Apostolic Administrator of Rumbek (South Sudan) (1974 – 1976)

Bishop of Wau (South Sudan) (1974.12.12 – 1979.10.30)

President of Sudan Bishops’ Conference (1978 – 1989)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Khartoum (Sudan) (1979.10.30 – 1981.10.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Khartoum (Sudan) (1981.10.10 – 2016.12.10)

President of Sudan Bishops’ Conference (1993 – 1999)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Atanasio a Via Tiburtina (2003.10.21 [2003.12.14] – ...)

President of Sudan Bishops’ Conference (2012.01.01 – 2016.10)

Vicars Apostolic of Wau (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ireneus Wien Dud (later Archbishop)
(1961.05.26 – 1974.12.12)

Born:	1912.08.21 (Sudan)
Ordained Priest:	1944.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.11.20
Died:	1988.04.24 († 75)

Vicar Apostolic of Rumbek (South Sudan) (1955.07.03 – 1960.05.10)

Titular Bishop of Barcusus (1955.07.03 – 1974.12.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (South Sudan) (1960.05.10 – 1961.05.26)

Vicar Apostolic of Wau (South Sudan) (1961.05.26 – 1974.12.12)

President of Sudan Bishops’ Conference (1970 – 1973)

Apostolic Administrator of Rumbek (South Sudan) (1972 – 1974)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Juba (South Sudan) (1974.12.12 – 1982)

Vicars Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ireneus Wien Dud (later Archbishop)
(1960.05.10 – 1961.05.26)

(see above)

Bishop Edoardo Mason, M.C.C.J.
(1947.05.08 – 1960.05.10)

Born:	1903.11.08 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1926.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.06.29
Died:	1989.03.15 († 85)

Vicar Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (South Sudan) (1947.05.08 – 1960.05.10)

Titular Bishop of Rusicade (1947.05.08 – 1989.03.15)

Vicar Apostolic of El Obeid (Sudan) (1960.05.10 – 1969)

Bishop Rodolfo Orler, M.C.C.J.
(1933.12.11 – 1946.07.19)

Born:	1892.11.27 (Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1916.12.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1934.02.07
Died:	1946.07.19 († 53)

Titular Bishop of Prusias ad Hypium (1933.12.11 – 1946.07.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (South Sudan) (1933.12.11 – 1946.07.19)

Bishop Antonio Stoppani, F.S.C.I.
(1917.06.13 – 1933)

Born:	1873.01.06 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1895.08.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1917.12.21
Died:	1940.08.06 († 67)

Prefect Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (South Sudan) (1913.05.30 – 1917.06.13)

Vicar Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (South Sudan) (1917.06.13 – 1933)

Titular Bishop of Stratonicea in Caria (1917.06.13 – 1940.08.06)

Prefects Apostolic of Bahr el-Ghazal (Roman Rite)

Fr. Antonio Stoppani, F.S.C.I. (later Bishop)
(1913.05.30 – 1917.06.13)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Mary, Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal

Bangassou (↙), Bambari (←), El Obeid (↑), Bentiu (↗), Rumbek (→), Tombura–Yambio (↓)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 134,572 km²

Population: 4,195,000 Catholics (75.0% of 5,594,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 25 parishes

Personnel: 69 priests (31 diocesan, 38 religious), 1 deacon, 92 religious (46 brothers, 46 sisters), 59 seminarians