Diocese of Wabag, Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Wabag / 瓦巴格 (正體中文) / Uabagan(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mount Hagen

Neighbouring Dioceses: Wewak (↑), Madang (→), Mount Hagen (↘), Mendi (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1982.03.18: Established as Diocese of Wabag / 瓦巴格 (正體中文) / Uabagan(us) (Latin) (from Diocese of Mount Hagen and became suffragan of Mount Hagen)

Contact Info

Address: Bishop’s House, P.O. Box 191, Wabag, Enga Province 291, Papua New Guinea

Phone: 547.1096

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.07.07 – ...):

Bishop Justin Ain Soongie (53)

Vice-President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands

Ordinaries

Bishops of Wabag (Roman Rite)

Bishop Justin Ain Soongie (53)
(2025.07.07 – ...)

Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea)
Vice-President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands

Yumi stap laip long krais

Born:	1973.06.02 (Tsikiro, Papua New Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	2005.05.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.09.02

Priest of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (2005.05.11 – 2021.06.15)

Titular Bishop of Forma (2021.06.15 – 2025.07.07)

Auxiliary Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (2021.06.15 – 2025.07.07)

Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (2025.07.07 – ...)

Vice-President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (2026.04.28 – ...)

Bishop Arnold Orowae
(2008.06.30 – 2024.12.27)

Larim hamamastru

Born:	1955.06.15 (Aiopa, Papua New Guinea)
Ordained Priest:	1983.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.03.04
Died:	2024.12.27 (Wabag, Papua New Guinea † 69)

Priest of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (1983.12.14 – 1999.12.14)

Titular Bishop of Gisipa (1999.12.14 – 2004.10.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (1999.12.14 – 2004.10.19)

Coadjutor Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (2004.10.19 – 2008.06.30)

Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (2008.06.30 – 2024.12.27)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (2014.05 – 2017.05.03)

Bishop Hermann Raich, S.V.D.
(1982.03.08 – 2008.06.30)

Born:	1934.05.02 (Jerzens, Austria)
Ordained Priest:	1962.04.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.04.29
Died:	2009.10.09 († 75)

Bishop of Wabag (Papua New Guinea) (1982.03.08 – 2008.06.30)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Arnold Orowae (2004.10.19 – 2008.06.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Justin Ain Soongie (53) (2021.06.15 – 2025.07.07)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Arnold Orowae (1999.12.14 – 2004.10.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Good Shepherd Cathedral, Sangurap, Enga

Wewak (↑), Madang (→), Mount Hagen (↘), Mendi (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 11,074 km²

Population: 79,650 Catholics (17.5% of 454,805 total)

Pastoral Centres: 18 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 23 priests (16 diocesan, 7 religious), 46 religious (24 brothers, 22 sisters), 16 seminarians