Diocese of

Witbank

South Africa

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Witbank / Vitbanken(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Johannesburg

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Peter Claver, Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1923.06.12: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Lydenburg / Lydenburgen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Transvaal)
1948.12.09: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Lydenburg / Lydenburgen(sis) (Latin)
1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Lydenburg / Lydenburgen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Pretoria)
1958.06.23: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Volksrust
1964.09.13: Renamed as Diocese of Lydenburg–Witbank / Lydenburgen(sis)–Vitbanken(sis) (Latin)
1987.11.10: Renamed as Diocese of Witbank / Vitbanken(sis) (Latin)
2007.06.05: Became suffragan of Johannesburg

Contact Info

Address: PO Box 651, Witbank 1035, South Africa

Phone: (013) 656 6827

Present Prelates

Bishop (2020.11.25 – ...):

Bishop Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo (70)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Witbank (Roman Rite)

Bishop Xolelo Thaddaeus Kumalo (70)
(2020.11.25 – ...)

Bishop of Witbank (South Africa)

To serve the Lord with one accord

Born:	1954.07.02 (Gogela, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1991.10.10
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.06.07

Priest of Bethlehem (South Africa) (1991.10.10 – 2008.03.11)

Bishop of Eshowe (South Africa) (2008.03.11 – 2020.11.25)

Bishop of Witbank (South Africa) (2020.11.25 – ...)

Bishop Giuseppe Sandri, M.C.C.J.
(2009.11.06 – 2019.05.30)

Venio ministrare

Born:	1946.08.28 (Faedo, Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1972.05.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2010.01.31
Died:	2019.05.30 († 72)

Bishop of Witbank (South Africa) (2009.11.06 – 2019.05.30)

Bishop Paul Mandla Khumalo, C.M.M. (77) (later Archbishop)
(2001.10.02 – 2008.11.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Pretoria (South Africa)
Military Ordinary emeritus of South African Defence Force (South Africa)

Born:	1947.02.05 (St. Wendelin, South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1973.04.28
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.01.27

Bishop of Witbank (South Africa) (2001.10.02 – 2008.11.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria (South Africa) (2008.11.24 – 2009.12.15)

Military Ordinary of South African Defence Force (South Africa) (2008.11.24 – 2009.12.15)

Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe
(1987.11.10 – 2000.02.17)

In spe et unitate

Born:	1938.02.28 (South Africa)
Ordained Priest:	1967.06.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.02.14
Died:	2012.06.29 († 74)

Titular Bishop of Tigisi in Numidia (1981.11.05 – 1984.01.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Lydenburg–Witbank (South Africa) (1981.11.05 – 1984.01.09)

Apostolic Administrator of Lydenburg–Witbank (South Africa) (1983 – 1984.01.09)

Bishop of Lydenburg–Witbank (South Africa) (1984.01.09 – 1987.11.10)

Bishop of Witbank (South Africa) (1987.11.10 – 2000.02.17)

Bishop of Pietersburg (South Africa) (2000.02.17 – 2009.09.04)

Bishop of Polokwane (South Africa) (2009.09.04 – 2011.12.09)

Bishops of Lydenburg–Witbank (Roman Rite)

Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe
(1984.01.09 – 1987.11.10)

(see above)

Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe
(Apostolic Administrator 1983 – 1984.01.09)

Bishop Anthony Reiterer, M.C.C.J.
(1964.09.13 – 1983.02.25)

Born:	1908.02.25 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1933.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.05.10
Died:	2000.02.20 († 91)

Bishop of Lydenburg (South Africa) (1956.02.29 – 1964.09.13)

Bishop of Lydenburg–Witbank (South Africa) (1964.09.13 – 1983.02.25)

Bishops of Lydenburg (Roman Rite)

Bishop Anthony Reiterer, M.C.C.J.
(1956.02.29 – 1964.09.13)

(see above)

Bishop Giovanni Riegler, F.S.C.I.
(1951.01.11 – 1955.10.06)

Born:	1901.12.01 (Austria)
Ordained Priest:	1926.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1949.01.23
Died:	1955.10.06 († 53)

Prefect Apostolic of Lydenburg (South Africa) (1939.06.30 – 1948.12.09)

Titular Bishop of Bita (1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Lydenburg (South Africa) (1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Lydenburg (South Africa) (1951.01.11 – 1955.10.06)

Vicars Apostolic of Lydenburg (Roman Rite)

Bishop Giovanni Riegler, F.S.C.I.
(1948.12.09 – 1951.01.11)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Lydenburg (Roman Rite)

Fr. Giovanni Riegler, F.S.C.I. (later Bishop)
(1939.06.30 – 1948.12.09)

(see above)

Fr. Aloysius Mohn, M.F.S.C.
(1926 – 1939)

Prefect Apostolic of Lydenburg (South Africa) (1926 – 1939)

Fr. Daniel Kauczor, M.F.S.C.
(1923 – 1926)

Prefect Apostolic of Lydenburg (South Africa) (1923 – 1926)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe (1981.11.05 – 1984.01.09)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Christ the King Cathedral, Witbank, Mpumalanga

Johannesburg (↙), Pretoria (←), Polokwane (↑), Tzaneen (↗), Xai-Xai (→), Maputo (→), Manzini (↘), Dundee (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 56,886 km²

Population: 127,260 Catholics (4.0% of 3,178,470 total)

Pastoral Centres: 29 parishes

Personnel: 33 priests (21 diocesan, 12 religious), 14 deacons, 52 religious (13 brothers, 39 sisters), 7 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.03

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