Diocese of Kokstad, South Africa

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kokstad / Kokstaden(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Durban

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Patrick

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1935.04.08: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Mount Currie (from Apostolic Vicariate of Mariannhill)
1939.07.11: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Kokstad / Kokstaden(sis) (Latin)
1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Kokstad / Kokstaden(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Durban)

Contact Info

Address: Holycross House, 107 Hope Street, PO Box 65, Kokstad 4700, South Africa

Phone: (039) 727 2239

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.04.06 – ...):

Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, C.M.M. (51)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kokstad (Roman Rite)

Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, C.M.M. (51)
(2022.04.06 – ...)

Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa)

Born:	1973.02.13 (Exobho, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	2000.03.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2022.06.11

Superior General of Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries (2016.10.08 – 2022.04.06)

Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa) (2022.04.06 – ...)

Bishop Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I. (67) (later Archbishop)
(2013.05.06 – 2020.04.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bloemfontein (South Africa)
Vice-President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

As I have loved you

Born:	1957.02.20 (Umlami, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1987.04.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2013.08.03

Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa) (2013.05.06 – 2020.04.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bloemfontein (South Africa) (2020.04.01 – ...)

Vice-President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2025.01 – ...)

Bishop William Matthew Slattery, O.F.M. (81) (later Archbishop)
(1993.11.17 – 2010.12.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Pretoria (South Africa)
Archbishop Military Ordinary emeritus of South African Defence Force (South Africa)

Abba

Born:	1943.09.06 (Portlaoise, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1970.02.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.02.19

Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa) (1993.11.17 – 2010.12.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria (South Africa) (2010.12.23 – 2019.04.30)

Archbishop Military Ordinary of South African Defence Force (South Africa) (2010.12.23 – 2019.04.30)

Bishop Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M. (83) (later Cardinal)
(1980.11.29 – 1992.05.29)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Francesco d’Assisi ad Acilia
Apostolic Administrator of Eshowe (South Africa)
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Durban (South Africa)

Pax et bonum

Born:	1941.03.08 (Swartberg, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1970.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.02.28
Created Cardinal:	2001.02.21

Apostolic Administrator of Kokstad (South Africa) (1978 – 1980.11.29)

Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa) (1980.11.29 – 1992.05.29)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1987 – 1993)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Durban (South Africa) (1992.05.29 – 2021.06.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Umzimkulu (South Africa) (1994.08.01 – 2008.12.31)

President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2000 – 2008.11)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Francesco d’Assisi ad Acilia (2001.02.21 [2001.05.20] – ...)

Member of Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Apostolic See (2007.02.03 – 2014.02.24)

Member of Council for the Economy (2014.03.08 – 2019.03.08)

Apostolic Administrator of Eshowe (South Africa) (2021.02.09 – ...)

Fr. Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M. (83) (later Cardinal)
(Apostolic Administrator 1978 – 1980.11.29)

Bishop John Evangelist McBride, O.F.M.
(1951.01.11 – 1978.05.15)

Born:	1903.03.12 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1927.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.07.25
Died:	1991.02.12 († 87)

Titular Bishop of Æzani (1949.04.21 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Kokstad (South Africa) (1949.04.21 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa) (1951.01.11 – 1978.05.15)

Vicars Apostolic of Kokstad (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Evangelist McBride, O.F.M.
(1949.04.21 – 1951.01.11)

(see above)

Bishop Biagio Sigibaldo Kurz, O.F.M.
(1939.07.11 – 1948.05.21)

In caritate unitas

Born:	1894.02.03 (Germany)
Ordained Priest:	1919.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1939.10.29
Died:	1973.12.13 († 79)

Prefect Apostolic of Mount Currie (South Africa) (1935 – 1939.07.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Kokstad (South Africa) (1939.07.11 – 1948.05.21)

Titular Bishop of Terenuthis (1939.07.11 – 1973.12.13)

Prefect Apostolic of Yongzhou 永州 (China) (1948.05.21 – 1973.12.13)

Prefects Apostolic of Mount Currie (Roman Rite)

Fr. Biagio Sigibaldo Kurz, O.F.M. (later Bishop)
(1935 – 1939.07.11)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Kokstad, Kwazulu-Natal

Mthatha (↙), Qacha’s Nek (↖), Umzimkulu (↗)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 17,635 km²

Population: 89,900 Catholics (4.5% of 2,013,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 16 parishes

Personnel: 22 priests (17 diocesan, 5 religious), 37 religious (5 brothers, 32 sisters), 5 seminarians

Diocese of

Kokstad 𝐖