Diocese of Luena, Angola 🇦🇴

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Luena / Lwena / Lvenan(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Saurimo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Menongue (↙), Kwito-Bié (←), Saurimo (↑), Solwezi (→), Kolwezi (→), Mongu (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Assunção (August 15)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1963.07.01: Established as Diocese of Luso / Lusitanian(us) (Latin) (from Diocese of Silva Porto and became suffragan of Luanda)
1977.02.03: Became suffragan of Huambo
1979.05.16: Renamed as Diocese of Luena / Lwena / Lvenan(us) (Latin)
2011.04.12: Became suffragan of Saurimo

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.07.01 – ...):

Bishop Martín Alfredo Lasarte Topolansky, S.D.B. (63)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Luena (Roman Rite)

Bishop Martín Alfredo Lasarte Topolansky, S.D.B. (63)
(2023.07.01 – ...)

Bishop of Luena (Angola)

Born:	1962.10.12 (Montevideo, Uruguay)
Ordained Priest:	1991.08.17
Consecrated Bishop:	2023.09.03

Bishop of Luena (Angola) (2023.07.01 – ...)

Bishop Jesús Tirso Blanco, S.D.B.
(2007.11.26 – 2022.02.22)

Amoris

Born:	1957.06.03 (Ramos Mejía, Argentina)
Ordained Priest:	1985.09.28
Consecrated Bishop:	2008.03.02
Died:	2022.02.22 (Verona, Italy † 64)

Bishop of Luena (Angola) (2007.11.26 – 2022.02.22)

Bishop Abílio Rodas de Sousa Ribas, C.S.Sp.
(Apostolic Administrator 2006.12.11 – 2007.11.26)

Bishop Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp. (68) (later Archbishop)
(2000.06.07 – 2006.12.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubango (Angola)

Et passio Christi

Born:	1958.01.17 (Bândua, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1984.02.26
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.01.06

Coadjutor Bishop of Luena (Angola) (1999.10.15 – 2000.06.07)

Bishop of Luena (Angola) (2000.06.07 – 2006.12.11)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Lubango (Angola) (2006.12.11 – 2009.09.05)

President of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (2007 – 2012.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Lubango (Angola) (2009.09.05 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (2009.11.20 – 2015.11.09)

President of Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (2013.09 – 2019.07.19)

Bishop José Próspero da Ascensão Puaty
(1979.05.16 – 2000.06.07)

Born:	1928.04.10 (Imanya, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1957.07.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.04.17
Died:	2001.10.12 († 73)

Bishop of Luso (Angola) (1977.02.03 – 1979.05.16)

Bishop of Luena (Angola) (1979.05.16 – 2000.06.07)

Bishops of Luso (Roman Rite)

Bishop José Próspero da Ascensão Puaty
(1977.02.03 – 1979.05.16)

(see above)

Bishop Manuel António Pires
(Apostolic Administrator 1976.04.13 – 1977.02.03)

Bishop Francisco Esteves Dias, O.S.B.
(1963.07.01 – 1976.04.13)

Born:	1920.09.21 (Sâo Vicente da Châ, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1948.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.09.08
Died:	1977.12.02 (Firvidas-Montalegre, Portugal † 57)

Bishop of Luso (Angola) (1963.07.01 – 1976.04.13)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp. (68) (later Archbishop) (1999.10.15 – 2000.06.07)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Assunção, Luena, Moxico

Menongue (↙), Kwito-Bié (←), Saurimo (↑), Solwezi (→), Kolwezi (→), Mongu (↘)

Statistics (2020.12.31)

Area: 223,000 km²

Population: 138,000 Catholics (24.2% of 571,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 23 parishes, 22 missions

Personnel: 38 priests (24 diocesan, 14 religious), 75 religious (24 brothers, 51 sisters), 65 seminarians