Diocese of

Bougainville

Papua New Guinea

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Bougainville / 布干維爾 (正體中文) / Buganvillen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Rabaul

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1898.05.23: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of German Solomon Islands (English) (from Apostolic Vicariate of New Pomerania)
1904.01.21: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Solomon Islands (English)
1930.05.31: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Solomon Islands (English)
1959.06.11: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Western Solomon Islands
1966.11.15: Promoted as Diocese of Bougainville / 布干維爾 (正體中文) / Buganvillen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Rabaul)

Contact Info

Address: P.O. Box 85, Buka, North Solomons Province, Papua New Guinea

Phone: 973.90.44

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.09.12 – ...):

Bishop Dariusz Piotr Kałuża, M.S.F. (57)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Bougainville (Roman Rite)

Bishop Dariusz Piotr Kałuża, M.S.F. (57)
(2020.09.12 – ...)

Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea)

Lok tok tru na laikpasin

Born:	1967.11.05 (Pszczyna, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1993.05.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.08.20

Bishop of Goroka (Papua New Guinea) (2016.06.09 – 2020.09.12)

Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (2020.09.12 – ...)

Archbishop Francesco Panfilo, S.D.B. (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2019.08.13 – 2020.09.12)

Bishop Bernard Unabali
(2009.12.15 – 2019.08.10)

Be glad / Sevim pipel bilong God tude

Born:	1957.05.05 (Bolioko, Papua New Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1985.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2006.09.06
Died:	2019.08.10 (Quezon City, Philippines † 62)

Priest of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (1985.12.14 – 2006.06.01)

Titular Bishop of Cuicul (2006.06.01 – 2009.12.15)

Auxiliary Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (2006.06.01 – 2009.12.15)

Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (2009.12.15 – 2019.08.10)

Bishop Henk Kronenberg, S.M.
(1999.04.19 – 2009.12.15)

Folatola atu le tala lelei

Born:	1934.09.29 (Enschede, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1961.10.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.07.14
Died:	2020.03.25 (Enschede, Netherlands † 85)

Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (1999.04.19 – 2009.12.15)

Archbishop Karl Hesse, M.S.C.
(Apostolic Administrator 1996.09.12 – 1999.04.19)

Archbishop Karl Hesse, M.S.C.
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 1995 – 1996.09.12)

Bishop Gregory Singkai
(1974.07.01 – 1996.09.12)

Born:	1935 (Papua New Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1966.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.11.24
Died:	1996.09.12 († 60)

Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (1974.07.01 – 1996.09.12)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Soloman Islands (1984 – 1987)

Bishop Leo Lemay, S.M.
(1966.11.15 – 1974.07.01)

Born:	1909.09.23 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1933.04.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1960.09.21
Died:	1983.09.09 († 73)

Titular Bishop of Agbia (1960.06.14 – 1966.11.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Papua New Guinea) (1960.06.14 – 1966.11.15)

Bishop of Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) (1966.11.15 – 1974.07.01)

Vicars Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Roman Rite)

Bishop Leo Lemay, S.M.
(1960.06.14 – 1966.11.15)

(see above)

Bishop Thomas James Wade, S.M.
(1930.07.03 – 1960)

Born:	1893.08.04 (USA)
Ordained Priest:	1922.06.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1930.10.26
Died:	1969.01.30 († 75)

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Papua New Guinea) (1930.07.03 – 1960)

Titular Bishop of Barbalissus (1930.07.03 – 1969.01.30)

Prefects Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Roman Rite)

Fr. Maurice Boch, S.M.
(1920 – 1929)

Died:

1929

Prefect Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Papua New Guinea) (1920 – 1929)

Fr. Joseph Forestier, S.M.
(1904 – 1918)

Died:

1918

Prefect Apostolic of Northern Solomon Islands (Papua New Guinea) (1904 – 1918)

Prefects Apostolic of German Solomon Islands (Roman Rite)

Fr. Eugen Englert, S.M.
(1899 – 1904)

Prefect Apostolic of German Solomon Islands (Papua New Guinea) (1899 – 1904)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Bernard Unabali (2006.06.01 – 2009.12.15)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, Buka, Bougainville
Former Cathedral: Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Tubiana, Bougainville

Rabaul (←), Kavieng (↖), Gizo (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 10,660 km²

Population: 272,000 Catholics (79.1% of 344,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 35 parishes, 5 missions

Personnel: 36 priests (26 diocesan, 10 religious), 74 religious (25 brothers, 49 sisters), 7 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.03

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