Diocese of

Meru

Kenya

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Meru / Meruen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Nyeri

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1926.03.10: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Meru / Meruen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Kenya)
1953.05.07: Promoted as Diocese of Meru / Meruen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Nairobi)
1956.02.20: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kitui
1976.12.09: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Garissa
1986.06.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Embu
1990.05.21: Became suffragan of Nyeri
1995.12.15: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Isiolo

Present Prelates

Bishop (2004.03.18 – ...):	Bishop Salesius Mugambi (73)
Coadjutor Bishop (2025.01.16 – ...):	Bishop-elect Jackson Murugara, I.M.C. (54)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Meru (Roman Rite)

Bishop Salesius Mugambi (73)
(2004.03.18 – ...)

Bishop of Meru (Kenya)

Rejoice in the Lord always

Born:	1951 (Egandene, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1977.12.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.03.19

Priest of Meru (Kenya) (1977.12.10 – 2001.12.01)

Coadjutor Bishop of Meru (Kenya) (2001.12.01 – 2004.03.18)

Bishop of Meru (Kenya) (2004.03.18 – ...)

Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru
(1976.12.09 – 2004.03.18)

Born:	1928.10.10 (Kevote, Kenya)
Ordained Priest:	1955.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.01.01
Died:	2020.04.28 (Rivoli, Italy † 91)

Titular Bishop of Maturba (1975.10.02 – 1976.12.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Meru (Kenya) (1975.10.02 – 1976.12.09)

Bishop of Meru (Kenya) (1976.12.09 – 2004.03.18)

Died of COVID-19.

Bishop Lawrence Victor Bessone, I.M.C.
(1954.03.03 – 1976.04.07)

Born:	1904.08.03 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1926.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.05.27
Died:	1976.04.07 († 71)

Bishop of Meru (Kenya) (1954.03.03 – 1976.04.07)

Prefects Apostolic of Meru (Roman Rite)

Bishop Carlo Maria Cavallera, I.M.C.
(Apostolic Administrator 1947 – 1954.03.03)

Fr. José Nepote-Fus, I.M.C. (later Bishop)
(1936.09.16 – 1948.08.07)

Born:	1893.04.25 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1920.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.07.06
Died:	1966.08.09 († 73)

Prefect Apostolic of Meru (Kenya) (1936.09.16 – 1948.08.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Rio Branco (Brazil) (1948.08.07 – 1952.04.18)

Bishop-Prelate of Roraima (Brazil) (1952.04.18 – 1965)

Titular Bishop of Helos (1952.04.18 – 1966.08.09)

Bishop Carlo Re, I.M.C.
(Apostolic Administrator 1932 – 1936.09.16)

Fr. Giuseppe Balbo, I.M.C.
(1926 – 1930)

Died:

1930

Prefect Apostolic of Meru (Kenya) (1926 – 1930)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Salesius Mugambi (73) (2001.12.01 – 2004.03.18)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Silas Silvius Njiru (1975.10.02 – 1976.12.09)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Joseph Cathedral, Meru, Meru

Embu (↙), Nyeri (←), Isiolo (↑), Kitui (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 9,546 km²

Population: 1,085,500 Catholics (31.1% of 3,491,480 total)

Pastoral Centres: 85 parishes

Personnel: 220 priests (175 diocesan, 45 religious), 504 religious (72 brothers, 432 sisters), 47 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.16

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