Diocese of Solwezi

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Bishop(s) Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 9 December 1976 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ndola Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Zambia Square Kilometers: 125,826 (48,600 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.solwezidiocese.org.zm/ Mailing Address: Plot 109/110 Kyankwankwa Street, P.O. Box 110033, Solwezi, Zambia Telephone: 974.600.006

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Solwezi
  • Latin Name: Solveziensis
  • Erected: 9 April 1959
  • Country: Zambia

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Rupert (Gilbert Paul) Hillerich, O.F.M. Conv. † (30 Aug 1959 Appointed - 26 May 1969 Died)
• Severinah Abdon Potani, O.F.M. Conv. † (9 Dec 1976 Appointed - 26 Dec 1993 Died)
• Noel Charles O’Regan, S.M.A. (10 Jul 1995 Appointed - 1 Oct 2004 Appointed, Bishop of Ndola)
• Alick Banda (30 May 2007 Appointed - 13 Nov 2009 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Ndola)
• Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde (23 Mar 2010 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Solwezi
9 April 1959	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Ndola (Solwezi, Kasempa, Mwinilunga, and Kabongo (except parts outside of Ndola))	Prefecture Apostolic of Solwezi (erected)
Diocese of Solwezi
9 December 1976	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Solwezi	Diocese of Solwezi
18 June 2024	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Solwezi (from Lusaka)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Solwezi
1970	3,946				14	14	281		24	9	6	ap1971
Diocese of Solwezi
1980	21,700	310,000	7.0%	6	15	21	1,033		27	18	9	ap1981
1990	27,000	331,000	8.2%	12	17	29	931		24	32	13	ap1991
1999	57,858	491,019	11.8%	16	21	37	1,563		26	56	17	ap2000
2000	61,523	503,221	12.2%	17	18	35	1,757		25	54	17	ap2001
2001	63,662	513,285	12.4%	18	19	37	1,720		26	52	17	ap2002
2002	64,936	523,551	12.4%	21	19	40	1,623		26	54	17	ap2003
2003	66,062	528,786	12.5%	17	16	33	2,001		21	53	17	ap2004
2004	67,048	682,191	9.8%	17	9	26	2,578		15	61	17	ap2005
2010	92,000	788,000	11.7%	26	20	46	2,000		24	56	23	ap2011
2014	95,683	882,000	10.8%	24	21	45	2,126		31	57	27	ap2015
2017	100,160	957,760	10.5%	28	19	47	2,131		26	61	29	ap2018
2020	98,620	1,045,000	9.4%	21		21	4,696		2	58	29	ap2021
2022	104,120	1,103,270	9.4%	30		30	3,470		3	72	38	ap2023
2024	107,035	1,134,160	9.4%	30		30	3,567			76	40	bul:18Jun2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Alick Banda (Bishop: 30 May 2007 to 13 Nov 2009)
• Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde (Bishop: 23 Mar 2010 - )
• Noel Charles O’Regan, S.M.A. (Bishop: 10 Jul 1995 to 1 Oct 2004)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Rupert (Gilbert Paul) Hillerich, O.F.M. Conv. † (Prefect: 30 Aug 1959 to 26 May 1969)
• Severinah Abdon Potani, O.F.M. Conv. † (Apostolic Administrator: 9 Jun 1970; Bishop: 9 Dec 1976 to 26 Dec 1993)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Solwezi Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 626, and Page 627 Diocese of Solwezi Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 69, Page 80, and Page 81

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