Diocese of

Polokwane

South Africa South Africa

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Polokwane / Polokwanen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Pretoria

Neighbouring Dioceses: Rustenburg (โ†™), Francistown (โ†–), Tzaneen (โ†’), Witbank (โ†˜), Pretoria (โ†“)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Benedict of Norcia

Liturgical Calendar (National) ๐Ÿ“…

History

Contact Info

Address: 8 Compensatie Street, Polokwane 0699, South Africa

Phone: (015) 295 8152

Present Prelates

Bishop (2013.06.10 โ€“ ...):Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (67)Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (67)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Polokwane (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (67)Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (67)
(2013.06.10 โ€“ ...)

Bishop of Polokwane (South Africa)

Born:1958.06.28 (Bergzich, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:1984.12.15
Consecrated Bishop:2013.09.07

Priest of Polokwane (South Africa) (1984.12.15 โ€“ 2013.06.10)

Apostolic Administrator of Polokwane (South Africa) (2011.12.09 โ€“ 2013.06.10)

Bishop of Polokwane (South Africa) (2013.06.10 โ€“ ...)

Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (67)Fr. Jeremiah Madimetja Masela (67) (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2011.12.09 โ€“ 2013.06.10)

Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe
(2009.09.04 โ€“ 2011.12.09)

In spe et unitate

Born:1938.02.28 (Warmbaths, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:1967.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:1982.02.14
Died:2012.06.29 (โ€  74)

Titular Bishop of Tigisi in Numidia (1981.11.05 โ€“ 1984.01.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lydenburgโ€“Witbank (South Africa) (1981.11.05 โ€“ 1984.01.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Lydenburgโ€“Witbank (South Africa) (1983.02.25 โ€“ 1984.01.09)

Bishop of Lydenburgโ€“Witbank (South Africa) (1984.01.09 โ€“ 1987.11.10)

Bishop of Witbank (South Africa) (1987.11.10 โ€“ 2000.02.17)

Bishop of Pietersburg (South Africa) (2000.02.17 โ€“ 2009.09.04)

Bishop of Polokwane (South Africa) (2009.09.04 โ€“ 2011.12.09)

Bishops of Pietersburg (Roman Rite)

Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe
(2000.02.17 โ€“ 2009.09.04)

(see above)

Bishop Fulgence Werner Le Roy, O.S.B. Subl.
(1988.12.15 โ€“ 2000.02.17)

Born:1924.08.23 (Beervelde, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1952.07.20
Consecrated Bishop:1975.09.14
Died:2017.10.14 (Affligem, Belgium โ€  93)

Apostolic Administrator of Pietersburg (South Africa) (1975.01.17 โ€“ 1975.07.10)

Titular Bishop of Ausafa (1975.07.10 โ€“ 1988.12.15)

Abbot Ordinary of Pietersburg (South Africa) (1975.07.10 โ€“ 1988.12.15)

Bishop of Pietersburg (South Africa) (1988.12.15 โ€“ 2000.02.17)

Abbot Ordinaries of Pietersburg (Roman Rite)

Bishop Fulgence Werner Le Roy, O.S.B. Subl.
(1975.07.10 โ€“ 1988.12.15)

(see above)

Fr. Fulgence Werner Le Roy, O.S.B. Subl. (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1975.01.17 โ€“ 1975.07.10)

Bishop Francis Clement van Hoeck, O.S.B. Subl.
(1954.01.06 โ€“ 1975)

Born:1903.06.28 (Gent, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1927.10.30
Consecrated Bishop:1954.05.01
Died:1976.04.20 (Pietersburg, South Africa โ€  72)

Abbot Ordinary of Pietersburg (South Africa) (1954.01.06 โ€“ 1975)

Titular Bishop of Cissita (1954.01.06 โ€“ 1976.04.20)

Bishop Frederic Osterrath, O.S.B. Subl.
(1939.11.14 โ€“ 1952.10)

Born:1882.11.04 (Tilff, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1906.03.16
Consecrated Bishop:1940.03.03
Died:1960.07.22 (โ€  77)

Abbot Ordinary of Pietersburg (South Africa) (1939.11.14 โ€“ 1952.10)

Titular Bishop of Tingis (1939.11.14 โ€“ 1956.11.14)

Titular Bishop of Syedra (1956.11.14 โ€“ 1960.07.22)

Prefects Apostolic of Northern Transvaal (Roman Rite)

Fr. Salvatore van Nuffel, O.S.B. Subl.
(1922.03.21 โ€“ 1939)

Born:1884.06.02
Ordained Priest:1909.06.05
Died:1939 (โ€  55)

Prefect Apostolic of Northern Transvaal (South Africa) (1922.03.21 โ€“ 1939)

Fr. Ildefonso Lanslots, O.S.B. Subl.
(1911 โ€“ 1922)

Born:1859
Ordained Priest:1881
Died:1941 (โ€  82)

Prefect Apostolic of Northern Transvaal (South Africa) (1911 โ€“ 1922)

Special Churches

Rustenburg (โ†™), Francistown (โ†–), Tzaneen (โ†’), Witbank (โ†˜), Pretoria (โ†“)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 69,533 kmยฒ

Population: 26,700 Catholics (1.0% of 2,731,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 13 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 15 priests (diocesan), 26 religious (12 brothers, 14 sisters), 5 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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