Gurué (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Inácio Lucas Mwita, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 6 December 1993
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Nampula
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Mozambique
Square Kilometers: 18,578 (7,175 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bispado, Bairro Moneia, C.P. 116, Gurue, Zambezia, Mocambique
Telephone: 24.91.05.60

Past and Present Ordinaries

Manuel Chuanguira Machado † (6 Dec 1993 Appointed - 9 Oct 2009 Resigned)
Francisco Lerma Martínez, I.M.C. † (24 Mar 2010 Appointed - 24 Apr 2019 Died)
Inácio Lucas Mwita (2 Feb 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
6 December 1993	Erected	Diocese of Quelimane (Guruè, Namarrói, Ile, Alto Molócuè, Gilè, and Pebane and part Milange called Molumbo)	Diocese of Gurué (erected)
2017	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Gurué (from Beira to Nampula)
23 January 2025	Territory Lost	Diocese of Gurué (Alto Molócuè, Gilé, and Pebane) Diocese of Quelimane (Mocubela and Mulevala)	Diocese of Alto Molócuè (erected)

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

1999 192,500 1,150,000 16.7% 9 24 33 5,833 31 30 13 ap2000

2000 212,000 1,175,000 18.0% 13 23 36 5,888 31 22 13 ap2001

2001 227,000 1,175,000 19.3% 17 22 39 5,820 29 24 13 ap2002

2002 259,500 1,200,000 21.6% 23 17 40 6,487 30 22 13 ap2003

2003 234,600 1,400,000 16.8% 24 36 60 3,910 3 41 13 15 ap2004

2004 239,000 1,428,000 16.7% 26 9 35 6,828 1 12 1 14 ap2005

2006 247,000 1,482,000 16.7% 19 18 37 6,675 24 22 15 ap2007

2013 642,651 1,732,000 37.1% 27 16 43 14,945 26 35 19 ap2014

2016 725,863 2,156,578 33.7% 31 16 47 15,443 26 46 20 ap2017

2019 948,142 2,185,380 43.4% 30 18 48 19,752 20 47 25 ap2020

2021 1,003,543 2,192,807 45.8% 29 19 48 20,907 21 58 25 ap2022

2023 1,000,595 2,193,321 45.6% 36 21 57 17,554 31 52 25 ap2024

2025 559,783 1,255,736 44.6% 24 9 33 16,963 37 12 bul:23Jan2025

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1999	192,500	1,150,000	16.7%	9	24	33	5,833		31	30	13	ap2000
2000	212,000	1,175,000	18.0%	13	23	36	5,888		31	22	13	ap2001
2001	227,000	1,175,000	19.3%	17	22	39	5,820		29	24	13	ap2002
2002	259,500	1,200,000	21.6%	23	17	40	6,487		30	22	13	ap2003
2003	234,600	1,400,000	16.8%	24	36	60	3,910	3	41	13	15	ap2004
2004	239,000	1,428,000	16.7%	26	9	35	6,828	1	12	1	14	ap2005
2006	247,000	1,482,000	16.7%	19	18	37	6,675		24	22	15	ap2007
2013	642,651	1,732,000	37.1%	27	16	43	14,945		26	35	19	ap2014
2016	725,863	2,156,578	33.7%	31	16	47	15,443		26	46	20	ap2017
2019	948,142	2,185,380	43.4%	30	18	48	19,752		20	47	25	ap2020
2021	1,003,543	2,192,807	45.8%	29	19	48	20,907		21	58	25	ap2022
2023	1,000,595	2,193,321	45.6%	36	21	57	17,554		31	52	25	ap2024
2025	559,783	1,255,736	44.6%	24	9	33	16,963			37	12	bul:23Jan2025