Maseru (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I., Archbishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 3 January 1961
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Lesotho
Square Kilometers: 7,739 (2,989 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 267, 19 Orpen Rd., Maseru 100, Lesotho
Telephone: 22.31.25.65
Fax: 22.31.04.25

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland
- Latin Name: Basutolandensis
- Erected: 8 May 1894
- Country: Lesotho
Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
- Latin Name: Basutolandensis
- Elevated: 18 February 1909
- Vicariate
- Country: Lesotho
- Square Kilometers: 30,000 (11,587 Square Miles)
Diocese of Maseru
- Latin Name: Maseruena
- Elevated: 11 January 1951
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Bloemfontein
- Country: Lesotho

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I. † ( 1897 Appointed - 24 May 1930 Resigned)
Joseph Bonhomme, O.M.I. † (25 Apr 1933 Appointed - 8 Mar 1947 Resigned)
Joseph-Delphis Des Rosiers, O.M.I. † (11 Mar 1948 Appointed - 3 Jan 1961 Appointed, Bishop of Qacha’s Nek)
Emanuel Gregory ’Mabathoana, O.M.I. † (3 Jan 1961 Appointed - 20 Sep 1966 Died)
Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I. † (13 Apr 1967 Appointed - 17 May 1989 Died)
Bernard Mosiuoa Mohlalisi, O.M.I. † (11 Jun 1990 Appointed - 30 Jun 2009 Retired)
Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I. (30 Jun 2009 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland
8 May 1894	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Kimberley in Orange	Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
18 February 1909	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Basutoland	Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
Diocese of Maseru
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland	Diocese of Maseru
11 December 1952	Territory Lost	Diocese of Maseru (Leribe and Butha-Büthe)	Diocese of Leribe (erected)
3 January 1961	Territory Lost	Diocese of Maseru (Qacha's Nek, Quthing, and Mokholtong)	Diocese of Qacha’s Nek (erected)
Archdiocese of Maseru
3 January 1961	Elevated	Diocese of Maseru	Archdiocese of Maseru
10 November 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Maseru (Mohale's Hoek and Mafeteng)	Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland

1950 190,650 560,550 34.0% 4 118 122 1,562 97 440 44 ap1951

Diocese of Maseru

Archdiocese of Maseru

1969 228,417 547,332 41.7% 6 100 106 2,154 187 400 41 ap1971

1980 223,000 402,000 55.5% 6 56 62 3,596 114 307 30 ap1981

1990 264,452 464,696 56.9% 11 79 90 2,938 109 283 31 ap1991

1999 265,034 464,862 57.0% 25 41 66 4,015 95 265 33 ap2000

2000 245,402 469,510 52.3% 27 46 73 3,361 97 254 35 ap2001

2001 246,629 471,857 52.3% 32 43 75 3,288 98 288 35 ap2002

2002 246,752 472,092 52.3% 31 46 77 3,204 96 283 41 ap2003

2003 246,875 472,328 52.3% 31 49 80 3,085 105 278 41 ap2004

2004 246,998 472,564 52.3% 30 52 82 3,012 115 275 41 ap2005

2013 436,502 829,000 52.7% 32 49 81 5,388 90 320 42 ap2014

2016 432,000 835,000 51.7% 24 85 109 3,963 127 333 36 ap2017

2019 465,306 931,469 50.0% 23 40 63 7,385 69 212 36 ap2020

2021 474,802 950,478 50.0% 23 40 63 7,536 69 205 36 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
1950	190,650	560,550	34.0%	4	118	122	1,562	97	440	44	ap1951
Diocese of Maseru
Archdiocese of Maseru
1969	228,417	547,332	41.7%	6	100	106	2,154	187	400	41	ap1971
1980	223,000	402,000	55.5%	6	56	62	3,596	114	307	30	ap1981
1990	264,452	464,696	56.9%	11	79	90	2,938	109	283	31	ap1991
1999	265,034	464,862	57.0%	25	41	66	4,015	95	265	33	ap2000
2000	245,402	469,510	52.3%	27	46	73	3,361	97	254	35	ap2001
2001	246,629	471,857	52.3%	32	43	75	3,288	98	288	35	ap2002
2002	246,752	472,092	52.3%	31	46	77	3,204	96	283	41	ap2003
2003	246,875	472,328	52.3%	31	49	80	3,085	105	278	41	ap2004
2004	246,998	472,564	52.3%	30	52	82	3,012	115	275	41	ap2005
2013	436,502	829,000	52.7%	32	49	81	5,388	90	320	42	ap2014
2016	432,000	835,000	51.7%	24	85	109	3,963	127	333	36	ap2017
2019	465,306	931,469	50.0%	23	40	63	7,385	69	212	36	ap2020
2021	474,802	950,478	50.0%	23	40	63	7,536	69	205	36	ap2022

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Bonhomme, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 Apr 1933 to 8 Mar 1947)
Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I. † (Prefect: 1897; Vicar Apostolic: 27 Feb 1909 to 24 May 1930)
Joseph-Delphis Des Rosiers, O.M.I. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Mar 1948; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 3 Jan 1961)
Emanuel Gregory ’Mabathoana, O.M.I. † (Archbishop: 3 Jan 1961 to 20 Sep 1966)
Bernard Mosiuoa Mohlalisi, O.M.I. † (Archbishop: 11 Jun 1990 to 30 Jun 2009)
Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I. † (Archbishop: 13 Apr 1967 to 17 May 1989)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Basutoland
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 1, Page 271
Diocese of Maseru
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263
Archdiocese of Maseru
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 53, Page 544, and Page 545

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