Diocese of Sakania–Kipushi, Congo-Kinshasa 🇨🇩

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sakania–Kipushi / Sakanien(sis)–Kipushien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Lubumbashi

Neighbouring Dioceses: Ndola (↙), Solwezi (←), Lubumbashi (↖), Mansa (↗), Mpika (→), Kabwe (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1925.05.12: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Luapula Supérieur (français) / Upper Luapula (English) / Luapula Superiore (Italiano) (from Apostolic Prefecture of Katanga)
1939.11.14: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Sakania / Sakanien(sis) (Latin)
1959.11.10: Promoted as Diocese of Sakania / Sakanien(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Elisabethville)
1976.11.13: Gained territory from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lubumbashi
1977.03.05: Renamed as Diocese of Sakania–Kipushi / Sakanien(sis)–Kipushien(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2004.04.07 – ...):

Bishop Gaston Ruwezi Kashala, S.D.B. (64)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sakania–Kipushi (Roman Rite)

Bishop Gaston Ruwezi Kashala, S.D.B. (64)
(2004.04.07 – ...)

Bishop of Sakania–Kipushi (Congo-Kinshasa)

Born:	1961.04.14 (Lubumbashi, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1990.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.08.14

Bishop of Sakania–Kipushi (Congo-Kinshasa) (2004.04.07 – ...)

Archbishop Floribert Songasonga Mwitwa
(Apostolic Administrator 2001 – 2004.04.07)

Bishop Elie Amsini Kiswaya
(1977.03.05 – 2001.12.21)

Born:	1928.08.25 (Kindu, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1959.07.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.02.21
Died:	2008.12.11 († 80)

Bishop of Sakania (Congo-Kinshasa) (1975.11.20 – 1977.03.05)

Bishop of Sakania–Kipushi (Congo-Kinshasa) (1977.03.05 – 2001.12.21)

Bishops of Sakania (Roman Rite)

Bishop Elie Amsini Kiswaya
(1975.11.20 – 1977.03.05)

(see above)

Archbishop Eugène Kabanga Songasonga
(Apostolic Administrator 1973.06.15 – 1975.11.20)

Bishop Petrus Frans Lehaen, S.D.B.
(1959.11.10 – 1973.06.15)

Born:	1908.01.17 (Neerpelt, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1933.07.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.05.31
Died:	1993.04.26 (Bonheiden, Belgium † 85)

Titular Bishop of Hyllarima (1959.02.12 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Sakania (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.02.12 – 1959.11.10)

Bishop of Sakania (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1973.06.15)

Vicars Apostolic of Sakania (Roman Rite)

Bishop Petrus Frans Lehaen, S.D.B.
(1959.02.12 – 1959.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop René van Heusden, S.D.B.
(1947.02.13 – 1958.03.22)

Born:	1888.08.02 (Beverst, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1919.09.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.06.11
Died:	1958.03.22 (Lubumbashi, Congo-Kinshasa † 69)

Titular Bishop of Cariana (1947.02.13 – 1958.03.22)

Vicar Apostolic of Sakania (Congo-Kinshasa) (1947.02.13 – 1958.03.22)

Bishop Joseph Sak, S.D.B.
(1939.11.14 – 1946.03.15)

Born:	1875.01.16 (Hechtel, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1899.09.25
Consecrated Bishop:	1940.04.07
Died:	1946.03.15 (Elisabethville, Congo-Kinshasa † 71)

Prefect Apostolic of Luapula Supérieur (Congo-Kinshasa) (1925.07.14 – 1939.11.14)

Titular Bishop of Scilium (1939.11.14 – 1946.03.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Sakania (Congo-Kinshasa) (1939.11.14 – 1946.03.15)

Prefects Apostolic of Luapula Supérieur (Roman Rite)

Fr. Joseph Sak, S.D.B. (later Bishop)
(1925.07.14 – 1939.11.14)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Sacré-Cœur, Kafubu, Haut-Katanga

Ndola (↙), Solwezi (←), Lubumbashi (↖), Mansa (↗), Mpika (→), Kabwe (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 40,000 km²

Population: 375,340 Catholics (45.3% of 828,940 total)

Pastoral Centres: 28 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 56 priests (27 diocesan, 29 religious), 264 religious (210 brothers, 54 sisters), 20 seminarians