Diocese of Bata, Equatorial Guinea

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bata / Bataën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Malabo

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Our Lady of the Assumption

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1965.08.09: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Río Muni / Rivi Munien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Fernando Poo)
1966.05.03: Promoted as Diocese of Bata / Bataën(sis) (Latin) (without ecclesiastical province)
1982.10.15: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ebebiyín and became suffragan of Malabo
2017.04.01: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Evinayong

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1982.02)

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Apostolic Administrator (2024.12.10 – ...):

Bishop Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, S.D.B. (55)

Bishop of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bata (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Angel Nguema Bee, S.D.B. (55)
(Apostolic Administrator 2024.12.10 – ...)

Bishop Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F. (75)
(2002.05.11 – 2024.12.10)

Bishop emeritus of Bata (Equatorial Guinea)

Born:	1949.05.24 (Nkué-Esandon, Equatorial Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1976.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.01.06

Bishop of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (1991.10.11 – 2002.05.11)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (2002.05.11 – 2024.12.10)

Apostolic Administrator of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (2006.08.30 – 2011.02.19)

Bishop Anacleto Sima Ngua
(1982.11.19 – 2002.05.11)

Born:	1936.06.02 (Equatorial Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1963.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1983.01.06
Died:	2018.07.01 († 82)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1982.11.19 – 2002.05.11)

President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (1992 – 2000)

President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central Africa Region (2000 – 2002)

Bishop Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. (later Archbishop)
(1980.06.26 – 1982.10.21)

Born:	1926.09.12 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1954.05.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.12.12
Died:	1991.07.07 († 64)

Titular Bishop of Sutunurca (1965.08.09 – 1966.05.03)

Vicar Apostolic of Río Muni (Equatorial Guinea) (1965.08.09 – 1966.05.03)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1966.05.03 – 1974.05.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1980 – 1982.10.21)

Bishop of Bata (Equatorial Guinea) (1980.06.26 – 1982.10.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1982.10.21 – 1991.07.07)

President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (1983 – 1991.07.07)

Bishop Vicente Bernikon
(Apostolic Administrator 1975 – 1976)

Fr. Ildefonso Obama Obono (86) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1971 – 1975)

Bishop Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. (later Archbishop)
(1966.05.03 – 1974.05.09)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Río Muni (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. (later Archbishop)
(1965.08.09 – 1966.05.03)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Catedral Santiago y Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Bata, Litoral, Región Continental
Minor Basilica: Basílica Santuário Preciosísima Sangre de Nuestro Señor, Bata, Litoral, Región Continental

Malabo (↖), Kribi (↑), Evinayong (→), Libreville (↓)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 6,681 km²

Population: 81,000 Catholics (69.2% of 117,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 26 parishes

Personnel: 74 priests (52 diocesan, 22 religious), 1 deacon, 95 religious (49 brothers, 46 sisters), 17 seminarians