Diocese of

Wewak

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Wewak / 韋瓦克 (正體中文) / Ueuaken(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Madang

Neighbouring Dioceses: Aitape (←), Madang (↘), Wabag (↓), Mendi (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: October 26

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

Contact Info

Address: Chancery Office, P.O. Box 107, Wewak, E.S.P. 531, Papua New Guinea

Phone: 456.1675

Present Prelates

Bishop (2015.02.06 – ...):Bishop Józef Roszynski, S.V.D. (63)Bishop Józef Roszynski, S.V.D. (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Wewak (Roman Rite)

Bishop Józef Roszynski, S.V.D. (63)Bishop Józef Roszynski, S.V.D. (63)
(2015.02.06 – ...)

Bishop of Wewak (Papua New Guinea)

Let us rejoice / Jisas mi trastim yu

Born:1962.08.18 (Nidzica, Poland)
Ordained Priest:1989.04.30
Consecrated Bishop:2015.04.25

Bishop of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (2015.02.06 – ...)

Archbishop Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap. (82)Archbishop Stephen Joseph Reichert, O.F.M. Cap. (82)
(Apostolic Administrator 2013.09.20 – 2015.02.06)

Bishop Anthony Joseph Burgess
(2002.08.14 – 2013.09.20)

Born:1938.07.29 (Singleton, New South Wales, Australia)
Ordained Priest:1967.07.23
Consecrated Bishop:2000.09.27
Died:2013.10.23 (Sydney, New South Wales, Australia † 75)

Priest of Caltanissetta (Italy) (1967.07.23 – 2000.05.10)

Coadjutor Bishop of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (2000.05.10 – 2002.08.14)

Bishop of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (2002.08.14 – 2013.09.20)

Bishop Raymond Philip Kalisz, S.V.D.
(1980.04.24 – 2002.08.14)

Born:1927.09.25 (Melvindale, MI, USA)
Ordained Priest:1954.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:1980.08.15
Died:2010.12.12 (Evanston, IL, USA † 83)

Bishop of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (1980.04.24 – 2002.08.14)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (1996 – 1999)

Archbishop Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D.
(Apostolic Administrator 1975.12.19 – 1980.04.24)

Bishop Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. (later Archbishop)
(1966.11.15 – 1975.12.19)

Born:1912.02.04 (Butte, NE, USA)
Ordained Priest:1943.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:1948.11.30
Died:1999.08.21 (Madang, Papua New Guinea † 87)

Vicar Apostolic of Central New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) (1948.07.08 – 1952.05.15)

Titular Bishop of Bucellus (1948.07.08 – 1966.11.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (1952.05.15 – 1966.11.15)

Bishop of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (1966.11.15 – 1975.12.19)

President of Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (1969 – 1973)

Apostolic Administrator of Wewak (Papua New Guinea) (1975.12.19 – 1980.04.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Madang (Papua New Guinea) (1975.12.19 – 1987.12.31)

Vicars Apostolic of Wewak (Roman Rite)

Bishop Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. (later Archbishop)
(1952.05.15 – 1966.11.15)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Central New Guinea (Roman Rite)

Bishop Leo Clement Andrew Arkfeld, S.V.D. (later Archbishop)
(1948.07.08 – 1952.05.15)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph Lörks, S.V.D.
(1931.08.22 – 1945.03.17)

Born:1876.03.24 (Kalkar, Germany)
Ordained Priest:1910.01.28
Consecrated Bishop:1933.12.17
Died:1945.03.17 (Japanese destroyer, Japan † 68)

Prefect Apostolic of Central New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) (1928.06.19 – 1931.08.22)

Vicar Apostolic of Central New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) (1931.08.22 – 1945.03.17)

Titular Bishop of Medeli (1933.05.23 – 1945.03.17)

Prefects Apostolic of Central New Guinea (Roman Rite)

Fr. Joseph Lörks, S.V.D. (later Bishop)
(1928.06.19 – 1931.08.22)

(see above)

Bishop Franz Wolf, S.V.D.
(Apostolic Administrator 1923 – 1928)

Fr. Theodosius Jan Herkenrath, SS.CC.
(1922 – 1923)

Born:1886.03.26 (Velp, Netherlands)
Died:1972.04.13 (HI, USA † 86)

Prefect Apostolic of Central New Guinea (Papua New Guinea) (1922 – 1923)

Prefect Apostolic of Bangka dan Billiton (Indonesia) (1924.01.18 – 1928)

Prefects Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land (Roman Rite)

Fr. Adalberto Ottone Rielander, SS.CC.
(1918 – 1922)

Born:1875 (Paderborn, Germany)
Died:1946.04.01 (USA † 70)

Prefect Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land (Papua New Guinea) (1918 – 1922)

Fr. Canisius Teodorus Gellings, SS.CC.
(1913.08.19 – 1918)

Born:1880.05.05 (Bonn, Germany)
Ordained Priest:1907.08.25
Died:1959.07.16 (Germany † 79)

Prefect Apostolic of Western Kaiser-Wilhelms-Land (Papua New Guinea) (1913.08.19 – 1918)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Aitape (←), Madang (↘), Wabag (↓), Mendi (↓)

Statistics (2014.12.31)

Area: 36,917 km²

Population: 241,000 Catholics (48.0% of 502,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 48 parishes, 2 missions

Personnel: 31 priests (21 diocesan, 10 religious), 102 religious (30 brothers, 72 sisters), 9 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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