Diocese of

Ziguinchor

Senegal

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Ziguinchor / Ziguinchoren(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Dakar

Neighbouring Dioceses: Banjul (↑), Kolda (→), Bissau (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1939.04.25: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Ziguinchor / Ziguinchoren(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Dakar)
1952.07.10: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Ziguinchor / Ziguinchoren(sis) (Latin)
1955.09.14: Promoted as Diocese of Ziguinchor / Ziguinchoren(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Dakar)
1957.01.21: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kaolack
1999.12.22: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Kolda

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.02)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.06.20 – ...):

Bishop Jean Baptiste Valter Manga (54)

Monsignors (1)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Ziguinchor (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean Baptiste Valter Manga (54)
(2024.06.20 – ...)

Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal)

Dieu fait grâce

Born:	1972.06.18 (Oussouye, Senegal)
Ordained Priest:	2000.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.11.23

Priest of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (2000.12.20 – 2024.06.20)

Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (2024.06.20 – ...)

Bishop Paul Abel Mamba Diatta (65)
(2012.01.25 – 2021.11.04)

Bishop of Tambacounda (Senegal)
President of Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau

Rien n’est impossible à Dieu

Born:	1960.12.05 (Cabrousse, Senegal)
Ordained Priest:	1988.04.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2012.04.21

Priest of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1988.04.08 – 2012.01.25)

Apostolic Administrator of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (2010 – 2012.01.25)

Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (2012.01.25 – 2021.11.04)

Vice-President of Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau (2017.11.18 – 2024.11)

Bishop of Tambacounda (Senegal) (2021.11.04 – ...)

President of Conference of Bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau (2024.11 – ...)

Fr. Paul Abel Mamba Diatta (65) (later Bishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 2010 – 2012.01.25)

Bishop Maixent Coly
(1995.10.23 – 2010.08.24)

Born:	1949.09.10 (Affiniam, Senegal)
Ordained Priest:	1980.12.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.12.11
Died:	2010.08.24 († 60)

Priest of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1980.12.30 – 1993.04.05)

Coadjutor Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1993.04.05 – 1995.10.23)

Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1995.10.23 – 2010.08.24)

Bishop Augustin Sagna
(1966.09.29 – 1995.10.23)

Omnia in Christo

Born:	1920.10.23 (Bignona, Senegal)
Ordained Priest:	1950.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.01.15
Died:	2012.12.12 († 92)

Priest of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1950.03.17 – 1966.09.29)

Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1966.09.29 – 1995.10.23)

Bishop Prosper Dodds, C.S.Sp.
(1955.09.14 – 1966.02.15)

Born:	1915.02.17 (Saint-Louis, Senegal)
Ordained Priest:	1939.07.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.10.26
Died:	1973.01.12 († 57)

Prefect Apostolic of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1947.06.13 – 1952.07.10)

Titular Bishop of Bennefa (1952.07.10 – 1955.09.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1952.07.10 – 1955.09.14)

Bishop of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1955.09.14 – 1966.02.15)

Bishop of Saint-Louis du Sénégal (Senegal) (1966.02.15 – 1973.01.12)

Vicars Apostolic of Ziguinchor (Roman Rite)

Bishop Prosper Dodds, C.S.Sp.
(1952.07.10 – 1955.09.14)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Ziguinchor (Roman Rite)

Fr. Prosper Dodds, C.S.Sp. (later Bishop)
(1947.06.13 – 1952.07.10)

(see above)

Fr. Giuseppe Fayec, C.S.Sp.
(1939.05.31 – 1947)

Died:

1947

Prefect Apostolic of Ziguinchor (Senegal) (1939.05.31 – 1947)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Maixent Coly (1993.04.05 – 1995.10.23)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint-Antoine de Padoue, Ziguinchor, Ziguinchor

Banjul (↑), Kolda (→), Bissau (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,339 km²

Population: 145,700 Catholics (21.7% of 671,450 total)

Pastoral Centres: 31 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 108 priests (97 diocesan, 11 religious), 176 religious (50 brothers, 126 sisters), 23 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.06.29

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