Diocese of Mbanza Congo, Angola 🇦🇴

Continent: Southern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Mbanza Congo / Mbanzacongen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Luanda

Neighbouring Dioceses: Boma (↖), Matadi (↑), Uíje (↘), Caxito (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Nossa Senhora da Conceição (December 8)

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1596.05.20: Established as Diocese of São Salvador da Congo (Português) / Congo in Angola (English) (from Diocese of Tomé and became suffragan of Lisboa)
1609: Suppressed (to establish Diocese of São Paulo de Loanda)
1623: Restored as Diocese of São Salvador da Congo (Português) / Congo in Angola (English) (from the suppressed Diocese of São Paulo de Loanda and became suffragan of Lisboa)
1628: Suppressed (to establish Diocese of São Paulo de Loanda)
1984.11.07: Restored as Diocese of Mbanza Congo / Mbanzacongen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Uíje and became suffragan of Luanda)

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1992.06)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2009.01.05 – ...):

Bishop Vicente Carlos Kiaziku, O.F.M. Cap. (68)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Mbanza Congo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Vicente Carlos Kiaziku, O.F.M. Cap. (68)
(2009.01.05 – ...)

Bishop of Mbanza Congo (Angola)

Humilitas et caritas

Born:	1957.08.28 (Kimacaka-Bamba, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1985.06.02
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.03.08

Bishop of Mbanza Congo (Angola) (2009.01.05 – ...)

Bishop Serafim Shyngo-Ya-Hombo, O.F.M. Cap.
(1992.05.29 – 2008.07.17)

Dominus vobiscum

Born:	1945.02.06 (Kibala, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1971.08.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1990.06.24
Died:	2026.01.01 (Windhoek, Namibia † 80)

Titular Bishop of Aquæ in Dacia (1990.03.26 – 1992.05.29)

Auxiliary Bishop of Luanda (Angola) (1990.03.26 – 1992.05.29)

Bishop of Mbanza Congo (Angola) (1992.05.29 – 2008.07.17)

Bishop Afonso Nteka, O.F.M. Cap.
(1984.11.08 – 1991.08.10)

Born:	1940.03.13 (Cazumbi, Angola)
Ordained Priest:	1971.09.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1985.01.06
Died:	1991.08.10 († 51)

Bishop of Mbanza Congo (Angola) (1984.11.08 – 1991.08.10)

Bishops of São Salvador da Congo (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco do Soveral, O.E.S.A.
(1627.02.08 – 1628)

Born:	(Servancelha, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1624.04
Died:	1642.01.05

Bishop of Tomé (São Tomé and Príncipe) (1623.10.05 – 1627.02.08)

Bishop of São Salvador da Congo (Angola) (1627.02.08 – 1628)

Bishop of São Paulo de Loanda (Angola) (1628 – 1642.01.05)

Bishop Simon Mascarenhas, O.F.M.
(1623 – 1624.10.13)

Born:	1571 (Alcacovas, Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1623.04.16
Died:	1624.10.13 († 52)

Bishop of São Paulo de Loanda (Angola) (1621.02.15 – 1623)

Bishop of São Salvador da Congo (Angola) (1623 – 1624.10.13)

Bishop Antonio de Santo Estevão, O.P.
(1604.07.15 – 1608.04)

Born:	1548? (Lisboa, Portugal)
Died:	1608.04 († 59)

Bishop of São Salvador da Congo (Angola) (1604.07.15 – 1608.04)

Bishop Miguel Rangel, O.F.M. Cap.
(1596.05.20 – 1602.08.16)

Born:	1541? (Coimbra, Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1581?
Died:	1602.08.16 (Luanda, Angola † 60)

Bishop of São Salvador da Congo (Angola) (1596.05.20 – 1602.08.16)

Special Churches

Cathedral, World Heritage Site: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, M’Banza Kongo, Zaire
Former Cathedral, World Heritage Site (now ruined): Sé Catedral de São Salvador de Congo, M’Banza Kongo, Zaire

Boma (↖), Matadi (↑), Uíje (↘), Caxito (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 39,459 km²

Population: 383,005 Catholics (44.1% of 869,320 total)

Pastoral Centres: 10 parishes, 10 missions

Personnel: 33 priests (20 diocesan, 13 religious), 44 religious (14 brothers, 30 sisters), 38 seminarians