Diocese of Bokungu–Ikela, Congo-Kinshasa 🇨🇩

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bokungu–Ikela / Bokunguen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mbandaka–Bikoro

Neighbouring Dioceses: Mbandaka–Bikoro (←), Basankusu (↖), Isangi (↗), Kole (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1961.09.11: Established as Diocese of Ikela / Ikelæn(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Coquilhatville and became suffragan of Coquilhatville)
1967.06.16: Renamed as Diocese of Bokungu–Ikela / Bokunguen(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2019.05.13 – ...):

Bishop Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu, M.S.C. (61)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bokungu–Ikela (Roman Rite)

Bishop Toussaint Iluku Bolumbu, M.S.C. (61)
(2019.05.13 – ...)

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa)

Born:	1964.11.18 (Monieka, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1995.07.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.07.21

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (2019.05.13 – ...)

Archbishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (66) (later Cardinal)
(Apostolic Administrator 2016.11.12 – 2018.02.06)

Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (66) (later Cardinal)
(2004.11.22 – 2016.11.12)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa
Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa)
President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
Member of Council of Cardinals

Omnia omnibus

Born:	1960.01.24 (Boto, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1988.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.03.06
Created Cardinal:	2019.10.05

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (2004.11.22 – 2016.11.12)

Apostolic Administrator of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (2008.10.30 – 2015.05.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (2016.03.05 – 2016.11.12)

Vice-President of National Episcopal Conference of Congo (2016.06.24 – 2020.10.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (2016.11.12 – 2018.02.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (2016.11.12 – 2018.02.06)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (2018.02.06 – 2018.11.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (2018.11.01 – ...)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Gabriele Arcangelo all’Acqua Traversa (2019.10.05 [2022.12.03] – ...)

Member of Council of Cardinals (2020.10.15 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (2020.11.23 – 2022.06.11)

First Vice-President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2022.08.01 – 2023.02.15)

President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2023.02.15 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Mokobe Ndjoku (76)
(1993.12.06 – 2001.11.09)

Bishop emeritus of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa)

Sapientia et fortitude eius

Born:	1949.08.15 (Djombo, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1978.08.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.03.20

Priest of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1978.08.20 – 1993.12.06)

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1993.12.06 – 2001.11.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998 – 2001.11.09)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (2001.11.09 – 2023.11.11)

Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba
(Apostolic Administrator 1991.10.11 – 1993)

Bishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba (later Archbishop)
(1982.03.18 – 1991.10.11)

Born:	1941 (Mokombe, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1969.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.06.07
Died:	2016.03.06 († 74)

Titular Bishop of Simidicca (1980.11.29 – 1982.03.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1980.11.29 – 1982.03.18)

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1982.03.18 – 1991.10.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1991.10.11 – 1993)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mbandaka–Bikoro (Congo-Kinshasa) (1991.10.11 – 2016.03.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (1997.07.05 – 1998.06.27)

Bishop Joseph Weigl, M.S.C.
(1967.06.16 – 1981)

Born:	1913.05.16 (Neunburg, Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1937.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.11.12
Died:	1985.02.04 († 71)

Bishop of Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1961.09.11 – 1967.06.16)

Bishop of Bokungu–Ikela (Congo-Kinshasa) (1967.06.16 – 1981)

Bishops of Ikela (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Weigl, M.S.C.
(1961.09.11 – 1967.06.16)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba (later Archbishop) (1980.11.29 – 1982.03.18)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Marie Reine d’Afrique, Bokungu, Tshuapa

Mbandaka–Bikoro (←), Basankusu (↖), Isangi (↗), Kole (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 42,000 km²

Population: 290,699 Catholics (30.9% of 940,807 total)

Pastoral Centres: 15 parishes

Personnel: 24 priests (19 diocesan, 5 religious), 46 religious (11 brothers, 35 sisters), 18 seminarians