Diocese of

Banjul

Gambia

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Banjul / Baniulen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Kaolack (↑), Tambacounda (→), Kolda (↘), Ziguinchor (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1931.05.06: Established as Mission sui juris of Gambia / de Gambia (Latin) (from Apostolic Prefecture of Sénégal)
1951.03.08: Promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Bathurst in Gambia / Bathursten(sis) in Gambia (Latin)
1957.06.24: Promoted as Diocese of Bathurst in Gambia / Bathursten(sis) in Gambia (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
1974.05.09: Renamed as Diocese of Banjul / Baniulen(sis) (Latin)

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.02)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2017.11.30 – ...):

Bishop Gabriel Mendy, C.S.Sp. (58)

President of Inter-territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Gambia and Sierra Leone / ITCABIC

Ordinaries

Bishops of Banjul (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gabriel Mendy, C.S.Sp. (58)
(2017.11.30 – ...)

Bishop of Banjul (Gambia)
President of Inter-territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Gambia and Sierra Leone / ITCABIC

Spiritus Sanctus vobis omnia docebit

Born:	1967.04.09 (Lamin, Gambia)
Ordained Priest:	1997.11.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.02.03

Bishop of Banjul (Gambia) (2017.11.30 – ...)

President of Inter-territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Gambia and Sierra Leone / ITCABIC (2024.07.03 – ...)

Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison, C.S.Sp.
(2006.02.25 – 2017.11.30)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1942.02.12 (Dublin, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1969.07.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.05.14
Died:	2024.02.22 (Dublin, Ireland † 82)

Bishop of Banjul (Gambia) (2006.02.25 – 2017.11.30)

Bishop Michael Joseph Cleary, C.S.Sp.
(1981.01.24 – 2006.02.25)

Born:	1925.09.01 (Tulrahan, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1952.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.03.25
Died:	2020.09.03 (Dublin, Ireland † 95)

Bishop of Banjul (Gambia) (1981.01.24 – 2006.02.25)

President of Inter-territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Gambia and Sierra Leone / ITCABIC (1986 – 1989)

President of Inter-territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Gambia and Sierra Leone / ITCABIC (2003.08 – 2004)

Bishop Michael Joseph Moloney, C.S.Sp.
(1974.05.09 – 1980.11.14)

Born:	1912.05.12 (Killaloe, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1937.06.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1958.05.04
Died:	1991.12.31 (Dublin, Ireland † 79)

Prefect Apostolic of Bathurst in Gambia (Gambia) (1951 – 1957.06.24)

Bishop of Bathurst in Gambia (Gambia) (1957.06.24 – 1974.05.09)

Bishop of Banjul (Gambia) (1974.05.09 – 1980.11.14)

President of Inter-territorial Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Gambia and Sierra Leone / ITCABIC (1975 – 1977)

Bishops of Bathurst in Gambia (Roman Rite)

Bishop Michael Joseph Moloney, C.S.Sp.
(1957.06.24 – 1974.05.09)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Bathurst in Gambia (Roman Rite)

Fr. Michael Joseph Moloney, C.S.Sp. (later Bishop)
(1951 – 1957.06.24)

(see above)

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Gambia (Roman Rite)

Fr. Matteo Farrelly, C.S.Sp.
(1946.06.07 – 1951)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Gambia (Gambia) (1946.06.07 – 1951)

Fr. Giovanni Meehan, C.S.Sp.
(1931.10.16 – 1946)

Died:

1946

Ecclesiastical Superior of Gambia (Gambia) (1931.10.16 – 1946)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Banjul, Banjul

Churches by City (22)

Kaolack (↑), Tambacounda (→), Kolda (↘), Ziguinchor (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 10,403 km²

Population: 53,201 Catholics (2.1% of 2,500,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 20 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 30 priests (17 diocesan, 13 religious), 86 religious (28 brothers, 58 sisters), 16 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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