Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Owando

Congo-Brazzaville

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Owando / Ouandoën(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Impfondo, Ouesso

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1950.12.21: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Fort-Rousset / Arcis Rousset (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Brazzaville)
1955.09.14: Promoted as Diocese of Fort-Rousset / Arcis Rousset (Latin) (became suffragan of Brazzaville)
1977.12.03: Renamed as Diocese of Owando / Ouandoën(sis) (Latin)
1983.06.06: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ouesso
2013.02.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Gamboma
2020.05.30: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Owando / Ouandoën(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Impfondo and Ouesso)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.01.06 – ...):

Archbishop Gélase Armel Kema, C.S.Sp. (52)

Apostolic Administrator of Ouesso (Congo-Brazzaville)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Owando (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gélase Armel Kema, C.S.Sp. (52)
(2024.01.06 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville)
Apostolic Administrator of Ouesso (Congo-Brazzaville)

Prædica verbum in patientia

Born:	1972.10.26 (Ouesso, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1999.08.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2022.02.13

Bishop of Ouesso (Congo-Brazzaville) (2021.12.08 – 2024.01.06)

Apostolic Administrator of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (2023.08.20 – 2024.01.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (2024.01.06 – ...)

Apostolic Administrator of Ouesso (Congo-Brazzaville) (2024.01.06 – ...)

Bishop Gélase Armel Kema, C.S.Sp. (52) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2023.08.20 – 2024.01.06)

Archbishop Victor Abagna Mossa (78)
(2020.05.30 – 2023.08.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville)

Crux voluntas tuaque gaudium meum / Crux tua gaudium meum

Born:	1946.06.18 (Makoua, Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1974.12.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.03.25

Priest of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (1974.12.29 – 2011.02.11)

Bishop of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (2011.02.11 – 2020.05.30)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (2015.04.25 – 2022.05.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (2020.05.30 – 2023.08.20)

Bishops of Owando (Roman Rite)

Bishop Victor Abagna Mossa (78) (later Archbishop)
(2011.02.11 – 2020.05.30)

(see above)

Bishop Louis Portella Mbuyu (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2008.10 – 2011.02.11)

Bishop Ernest Kombo, S.J.
(1990.07.07 – 2008.10.22)

Born:	1941.03.27 (Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1973.07.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.01.06
Died:	2008.10.22 († 67)

Bishop of Nkayi (Congo-Brazzaville) (1983.12.05 – 1990.07.07)

Bishop of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (1990.07.07 – 2008.10.22)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (2003.05 – 2006)

Bishop Georges-Firmin Singha
(1972.05.23 – 1988.09.01)

Born:	1925.05.23 (Congo-Brazzaville)
Ordained Priest:	1956.10.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.08.06
Died:	1993.08.18 († 68)

Bishop of Owando (Congo-Brazzaville) (1972.05.23 – 1988.09.01)

President of Episcopal Conference of Congo (1981 – 1986)

Bishop of Pointe-Noire (Congo-Brazzaville) (1988.09.01 – 1993.08.18)

Bishops of Fort-Rousset (Roman Rite)

Bishop Georges Benoit Gassongo
(Apostolic Administrator 1968.03.02 – 1970.02.27)

Bishop Emile-Elie Verhille, C.S.Sp.
(1955.09.14 – 1968.03.02)

Born:	1903.01.22 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1929.03.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1951.12.21
Died:	1977.12.02 († 74)

Titular Bishop of Cernitza (1951.06.21 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Fort-Rousset (Congo-Brazzaville) (1951.06.21 – 1955.09.14)

Bishop of Fort-Rousset (Congo-Brazzaville) (1955.09.14 – 1968.03.02)

Titular Bishop of Gibba (1968.03.02 – 1977.12.02)

Vicars Apostolic of Fort-Rousset (Roman Rite)

Bishop Emile-Elie Verhille, C.S.Sp.
(1951.06.21 – 1955.09.14)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Georges Benoit Gassongo (1965.07.06 – 1981.04.17)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Christ-Roi, Owando, Cuvette

Franceville (↙), Makokou (←), Ouesso (↑), Impfondo (↗), Mbandaka–Bikoro (→), Gamboma (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 74,850 km²

Population: 373,000 Catholics (73.1% of 510,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 19 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 54 priests (49 diocesan, 5 religious), 1 deacon, 76 religious (44 brothers, 32 sisters), 18 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.03

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