Diocese of Leribe, Lesotho 🇱🇸

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Leribe / Leriben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Maseru

Neighbouring Dioceses: Maseru (↙), Bethlehem (↑), Qacha’s Nek (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1952.12.11: Established as Diocese of Leribe / Leriben(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Maseru and became suffragan of Bloemfontein)
1961.01.03: Became suffragan of Maseru

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.02.28 – ...):

Bishop Vitalis Sekhonyana Marole, O.M.I. (71)

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Leribe (Roman Rite)

Bishop Vitalis Sekhonyana Marole, O.M.I. (71)
(2025.02.28 – ...)

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho)

Ut unum simus

Born:	1954.12.10 (Semonkong, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1988.12.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2025.05.10

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (2025.02.28 – ...)

Bishop Augustinus Tumaole Bane, O.M.I. (78)
(2009.06.30 – 2025.02.28)

Bishop emeritus of Leribe (Lesotho)

Born:	1947.08.14 (Motsistseng, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1977.01.23
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.09.19

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (2009.06.30 – 2025.02.28)

President of Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2018 – 2024?)

Bishop Paul Khoarai
(1970.03.07 – 2009.06.30)

Born:	1933.05.29 (Makoabeng, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1963.02.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1970.07.04
Died:	2012.12.27 († 79)

Priest of Leribe (Lesotho) (1963.02.17 – 1970.03.07)

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (1970.03.07 – 2009.06.30)

President of Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1987 – 1991)

Archbishop Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I.
(Apostolic Administrator 1968.06.18 – 1970.07)

Bishop Ignatius Phakoe, O.M.I.
(1961.01.03 – 1968.06.18)

Born:	1927.07.09 (Koro-Koro, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1952.07.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.05.21
Died:	1989.07.23 († 62)

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (1961.01.03 – 1968.06.18)

Titular Bishop of Bettona (1968.06.18 – 1989.07.23)

Bishop Emanuel Mabathoama, O.M.I. (later Archbishop)
(1952.12.11 – 1961.01.03)

Born:	1904.12.29 (Mafikeng-Roma, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1934.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.03.25
Died:	1966.09.20 (Pretoria, South Africa † 61)

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (1952.12.11 – 1961.01.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1961.01.03 – 1966.09.20)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Monica, Tsikoane, Leribe
Co-Cathedral: Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hotse, Leribe

Maseru (↙), Bethlehem (↑), Qacha’s Nek (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 5,215 km²

Population: 266,753 Catholics (58.5% of 455,700 total)

Pastoral Centres: 19 parishes

Personnel: 33 priests (29 diocesan, 4 religious), 193 religious (6 brothers, 187 sisters), 14 seminarians