Diocese of Kole, Congo-Kinshasa

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kole / Kolen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Kananga

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1951.06.14: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Kole / Kolen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville and Apostolic Vicariate of Tshumbe)
1967.09.16: Promoted as Diocese of Kole / Kolen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Luluabourg)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.05.06 – ...):

Bishop Emery Kibal Mansong’loo, C.P. (55)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kole (Roman Rite)

Bishop Emery Kibal Mansong’loo, C.P. (55)
(2015.05.06 – ...)

Bishop of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:	1969.06.28 (Kimputu, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1998.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2015.08.09

Bishop of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (2015.05.06 – ...)

Bishop Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (64) (later Cardinal)
(Apostolic Administrator 2008.10.30 – 2015.05.06)

Bishop Stanislas Lukumwena Lumbala, O.F.M. (75)
(1998.02.14 – 2008.10.30)

Bishop emeritus of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa)

Born:	1949.07.24 (Tshikapa, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1979.03.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1998.06.21

Bishop of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998.02.14 – 2008.10.30)

Bishop Louis Nkinga Bondala, C.I.C.M. (87)
(1980.01.28 – 1996.03.13)

Bishop emeritus of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa)

In caritate unitas

Born:	1937.06.20 (Mankanza, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1966.08.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1980.05.04

Bishop of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (1980.01.28 – 1996.03.13)

Coadjutor Bishop of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (1996.03.13 – 1997.07.06)

Bishop of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (1997.07.06 – 2015.02.11)

Apostolic Administrator of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (2007.05.23 – 2009.11.14)

Bishop Victor Van Beurden, SS.CC.
(1967.09.16 – 1980.01.28)

Born:	1908.01.07 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1934.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1968.02.11
Died:	1991.04.22 († 83)

Prefect Apostolic of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (1951.06.22 – 1967.09.16)

Bishop of Kole (Congo-Kinshasa) (1967.09.16 – 1980.01.28)

Prefects Apostolic of Kole (Roman Rite)

Fr. Victor Van Beurden, SS.CC. (later Bishop)
(1951.06.22 – 1967.09.16)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Regina Pacis, Kole, Sankuru

Inongo (←), Mbandaka–Bikoro (↖), Bokungu–Ikela (↑), Kindu (↗), Tshumbe (→), Mweka (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 66,000 km²

Population: 184,000 Catholics (23.7% of 778,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 14 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 37 priests (diocesan), 103 religious (7 brothers, 96 sisters), 28 seminarians