Diocese of Molegbe, Congo-Kinshasa

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Molegbe / Molegben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mbandaka–Bikoro

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1911.04.07: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Ubangui belge (français) / Belgian Ubanghi (English) / Ubanghi Belga (Italiano) / de Ubanghi Belgico (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Congo Belge)
1935.01.28: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Ubangui belge (français) / Belgian Ubanghi (English) / Ubanghi Belga (Italiano) / de Ubanghi Belgico (Latin)
1959.11.10: Promoted as Diocese of Molegbe / Molegben(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Coquilhatville)

Present Prelates

Bishop:	vacant
Apostolic Administrator (2023.08.01 – ...):	Bishop Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba (57) Bishop of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Molegbe (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph-Bernard Likolo Bokal’Etumba (57)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.08.01 – ...)

Bishop Dominique Bulamatari Kizayakana
(2009.11.14 – 2023.08.01)

Born:	1955.06.04 (Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1980.04.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.01.30
Died:	2024.08.26 (Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa † 69)

Priest of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (1980.04.20 – 1999.10.29)

Titular Bishop of Elephantaria in Mauretania (1999.10.29 – 2009.11.14)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (1999.10.29 – 2009.11.14)

Bishop of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (2009.11.14 – 2023.08.01)

Bishop Louis Nkinga Bondala, C.I.C.M. (87)
(Apostolic Administrator 2007.05.23 – 2009.11.14)

Bishop Ignace Matondo Kwa Nzambi, C.I.C.M.
(1998.06.27 – 2007.05.23)

Born:	1932.04.12 (Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1964.08.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.04.13
Died:	2011.09.09 († 79)

Bishop of Basankusu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1974.11.18 – 1998.06.27)

Bishop of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (1998.06.27 – 2007.05.23)

Archbishop Joseph Kumuondala Mbimba
(Apostolic Administrator 1997 – 1998.06.27)

Bishop Joseph Kesenge Wandangakongu
(1968.09.05 – 1997.10.18)

Born:	1928.04.04 (Molegbe, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1957.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.01.25
Died:	2021.02.19 (Gbadolite, Congo-Kinshasa † 92)

Bishop of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (1968.09.05 – 1997.10.18)

Bishop Louis Nganga a Ndzando
(Apostolic Administrator 1967 – 1968.09.05)

Bishop Léon-Théobald Delaere, O.F.M. Cap.
(1959.11.10 – 1967.08.03)

Born:	1898.02.01 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1923.09.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.04.05
Died:	1983.06.14 († 85)

Titular Bishop of Fessei (1958.11.13 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Congo-Kinshasa) (1958.11.13 – 1959.11.10)

Bishop of Molegbe (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1967.08.03)

Titular Bishop of Rusibisir (1967.08.03 – 1976.09.14)

Vicars Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Roman Rite)

Bishop Léon-Théobald Delaere, O.F.M. Cap.
(1958.11.13 – 1959.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop Jean-Ghislain Delcuve, O.F.M. Cap.
(1948.06.10 – 1958.11.13)

Born:	1895.12.24 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1920.02.28
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.08.10
Died:	1963.08.13 († 67)

Vicar Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Congo-Kinshasa) (1948.06.10 – 1958.11.13)

Titular Bishop of Bargylia (1948.06.21 – 1963.08.13)

Bishop Basile Tanghe, O.F.M. Cap.
(1935.01.28 – 1947.12.16)

Born:	1879.11.20 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1901.09.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1935.06.06
Died:	1947.12.16 († 68)

Prefect Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Congo-Kinshasa) (1931.10.16 – 1935.01.28)

Titular Bishop of Tigava (1935.01.28 – 1947.12.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Congo-Kinshasa) (1935.01.28 – 1947.12.16)

Prefects Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Roman Rite)

Fr. Basile Tanghe, O.F.M. Cap. (later Bishop)
(1931.10.16 – 1935.01.28)

(see above)

Fr. Fulgence Carnonckel, O.F.M. Cap.
(1911 – 1930?)

Prefect Apostolic of Ubangui belge (Congo-Kinshasa) (1911 – 1930?)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue, Molegbe, Nord-Ubangi

Budjala (↙), Impfondo (↙), Mbaïki (←), Bangui (←), Kaga-Bandoro (↖), Bambari (↑), Alindao (↑), Bangassou (↗), Bondo (→), Lisala (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 79,000 km²

Population: 948,728 Catholics (53.8% of 1,764,532 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes

Personnel: 83 priests (58 diocesan, 25 religious), 160 religious (49 brothers, 111 sisters), 105 seminarians