Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe

Diocese of Eshowe Dioecesis Eshovensis
Location
Country	South Africa
Metropolitan	Durban
Statistics
Area	26,364 km2 (10,179 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2004) 2,200,600 81,000 (3.7%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Sede vacante

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Eshowe (Latin: Eshoven(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Eshowe in the Ecclesiastical province of Durban in South Africa.

History

• August 27, 1921: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Zululand from the Apostolic Vicariate of Natal
• December 11, 1923: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Eshowe
• January 11, 1951: Promoted as Diocese of Eshowe

Special churches

The Cathedral is the Cathedral of St. Therese of the Little Flower in Eshowe.

Leadership

• Prefect Apostolic of Zululand (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Thomas Spreiter, O.S.B. (1921-08-27 – 1923-12-11 see below)
• Vicars Apostolic of Eshowe (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Thomas Spreiter, O.S.B. (see above 1923-12-11 – 1943-05-14)
  • Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri, O.S.B. (1947-06-12 – 1951-01-11 see below)
• Bishops of Eshowe (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri, O.S.B. (see above 1951-01-11 – 1973-07-24)
  • Bishop Mansuet Dela Biyase (1975-02-28 – 2005-06-26)
  • Bishop Thaddaeus Kumalo (since 2008-03-11)

See also

• Roman Catholicism in South Africa

External links

• GCatholic.org ^{[self-published]}
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}
• Diocese of Eshowe website