Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Maseru

Lesotho

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Maseru / Maseruen(us) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Leribe, Mohale’s Hoek, Qacha’s Nek

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1894.05.08: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Basutoland / Basutolanden(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Orange Free State)
1909.02.18: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Basutoland / Basutolanden(sis) (Latin)
1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Maseru / Maseruen(us) (Latin) (became suffragan of Bloemfontein)
1952.12.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Leribe
1961.01.03: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maseru / Maseruen(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Leribe and Qacha’s Nek and lost territory to establish Diocese of Qacha’s Nek)
1977.11.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek and gained suffragan see Mohale’s Hoek

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1988.09)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2009.06.30 – ...):

Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I. (70)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Maseru (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I. (70)
(2009.06.30 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho)

Born:	1954.02.12 (Mokhotlong, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1982.01.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.09.12

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (2009.06.30 – ...)

President of Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2011.05 – 2018)

Archbishop Bernard Mosiuoa Mohlalisi, O.M.I.
(1990.06.11 – 2009.06.30)

Born:	1933.03.16 (Ha’Malijeng, Lesotho)
Ordained Priest:	1963.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.10.07
Died:	2020.07.24 (Mazenod, Lesotho † 87)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1990.06.11 – 2009.06.30)

President of Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1997 – 2002)

Archbishop Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I.
(1967.04.13 – 1989.05.17)

Born:	1929.05.25
Ordained Priest:	1958.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.06.29
Died:	1989.05.17 († 59)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1967.04.13 – 1989.05.17)

Apostolic Administrator of Leribe (Lesotho) (1968.06.18 – 1970.07)

President of Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1972 – 1982)

Archbishop Emanuel Mabathoama, O.M.I.
(1961.01.03 – 1966.09.20)

Born:	1904.12.29
Ordained Priest:	1934.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.03.25
Died:	1966.09.20 († 61)

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (1952.12.11 – 1961.01.03)

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

Bishops of Maseru (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Delphis Desrosiers, O.M.I.
(1951.01.11 – 1961.01.03)

In omnibus Christus

Born:	1906.02.23 (Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1930.07.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.06.29
Died:	1989.06.22 († 83)

Titular Bishop of Pachnemunis (1948.03.11 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1948.03.11 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1951.01.11 – 1961.01.03)

Bishop of Qacha’s Nek (Lesotho) (1961.01.03 – 1981)

Vicars Apostolic of Basutoland (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Delphis Desrosiers, O.M.I.
(1948.03.11 – 1951.01.11)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph Bonhomme, O.M.I.
(1933.04.25 – 1947.03.08)

Impendam et superimpendar

Born:	1889.01.29 (Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1918.05.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1933.06.28
Died:	1973.08.06 († 84)

Vicar Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1933.04.25 – 1947.03.08)

Titular Bishop of Tulana (1933.04.25 – 1973.08.06)

Bishop Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I.
(1909.01.25 – 1930.05.24)

Born:	1865.03.09 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1890.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1909.05.01
Died:	1944.03.02 († 78)

Prefect Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1895 – 1909.01.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1909.01.25 – 1930.05.24)

Titular Bishop of Nicopolis in Armenia (1909.01.25 – 1944.03.02)

Prefects Apostolic of Basutoland (Roman Rite)

Fr. Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I. (later Bishop)
(1895 – 1909.01.25)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of Victories, Maseru, Maseru
Pro-Cathedral: Pro-Cathedral of Mater Jesu, Roma, Maseru

Bloemfontein (←), Bethlehem (↑), Leribe (↗), Qacha’s Nek (↘), Mohale’s Hoek (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,739 km²

Population: 495,181 Catholics (50.2% of 987,222 total)

Pastoral Centres: 36 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 62 priests (23 diocesan, 39 religious), 249 religious (65 brothers, 184 sisters), 20 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2024.10.01

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