Diocese of

Mzuzu

Malawi

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Mzuzu / Mzuzuen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Lilongwe

Neighbouring Dioceses: Chipata (↙), Karonga (↑), Lilongwe (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Immaculate Conception, Saint Carolus Lwanga

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1947.05.08: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Northern Nyassa / Nyassæ Septentrionalis (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Nyassa)
1961.01.17: Promoted as Diocese of Mzuzu / Mzuzuen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Blantyre)
2010.07.21: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Karonga
2011.02.09: Became suffragan of Lilongwe

Contact Info

Address: P.O. Box 2, Mzuzu, Malawi

Phone: +265 1 303269

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.04.01 – ...):

Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda (49)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Mzuzu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda (49)
(2025.04.01 – ...)

Bishop of Mzuzu (Malawi)

Go and work quietly

Born:	1976.06.20 (Wozi, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	2008.07.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.08.05

Priest of Mzuzu (Malawi) (2008.07.19 – 2023.05.05)

Titular Bishop of Catrum (2023.05.05 – 2025.04.01)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mzuzu (Malawi) (2023.05.05 – 2025.04.01)

Bishop of Mzuzu (Malawi) (2025.04.01 – ...)

Bishop John Alphonsus Ryan, S.P.S. (74)
(2016.04.26 – 2025.04.01)

Bishop emeritus of Mzuzu (Malawi)

Everything except sin in sacred

Born:	1952.02.27 (Tipperary, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1978.06.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2016.08.27

Bishop of Mzuzu (Malawi) (2016.04.26 – 2025.04.01)

Bishop Joseph Mukasa Zuza
(1995.03.03 – 2015.01.15)

Born:	1955.10.02 (Malembo, Malawi)
Ordained Priest:	1982.07.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.05.06
Died:	2015.01.15 († 59)

Bishop of Mzuzu (Malawi) (1995.03.03 – 2015.01.15)

President of Episcopal Conference of Malawi (2012.06 – 2015.01.15)

Fr. John Vincent Roche, S.P.S.
(Apostolic Administrator 1987.10.10 – 1995.03.03)

Bishop Jean-Louis Jobidon, M. Afr.
(1961.01.17 – 1987.10.01)

Born:	1916.11.18 (Château-Richer, QC, Canada)
Ordained Priest:	1943.06.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.05.22
Died:	1997.04.14 (Québec, QC, Canada † 80)

Prefect Apostolic of Northern Nyassa (Malawi) (1958 – 1961.01.17)

Bishop of Mzuzu (Malawi) (1961.01.17 – 1987.10.01)

Prefects Apostolic of Northern Nyassa (Roman Rite)

Fr. Jean-Louis Jobidon, M. Afr. (later Bishop)
(1958 – 1961.01.17)

(see above)

Fr. Marcello Saint-Denis, M. Afr.
(1947.06.13 – 1957)

Died:

1957

Prefect Apostolic of Northern Nyassa (Malawi) (1947.06.13 – 1957)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Yohane Suzgo Nyirenda (49) (2023.05.05 – 2025.04.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Peter, Mzuzu, Mzimba, Northern Region

Chipata (↙), Karonga (↑), Lilongwe (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 21,500 km²

Population: 730,500 Catholics (39.3% of 1,858,940 total)

Pastoral Centres: 19 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 55 priests (37 diocesan, 18 religious), 128 religious (22 brothers, 106 sisters), 25 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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