Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kananga
Appearance
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kananga (Latin: Kanangan(us)) is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Kananga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Special churches
The cathedral episcopal is the Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint Joseph Mikalayi Cathédrale Saint Joseph Mikalayi in Kazumba.
There is also a Pro-Cathedral is the Pro-cathédrale Saint Clément (dedicated to Pope Clement I) in Kananga.
History
- Established on 26 July 1901 as Mission sui juris of Upper Kassai (Kasaï Supérieur), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Belgian Congo (Congo Belge)
- March 18, 1904 promoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Upper Kassai
- June 13, 1917, again promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Upper Kasai, hence entitled to a titular bishop
- Lost territory repeatedly, to establish : the Apostolic Prefecture of Lulua Katanga on 18 July 1922, the Apostolic Prefecture of Tshumbe on 1936.05.18, the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu on 1937.04.13 and the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu on 1939.04.25.
- March 10, 1949: Renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Luluabourg
- Lost territories on 23 March 1953 to establish both Apostolic Vicariate of Kabinda and Apostolic Prefecture of Mweka
- On 1959.04.25, lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Luebo
- November 10, 1959: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Luluabourg
- On 1963.11.22, lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Administration of Mbuji-Mayi
- Lost territories on 1967.09.26, to Diocese of Luebo (as transfer), and establish the Diocese of Lwiza
- June 14, 1972: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kananga
Leadership
(all Latin Rite, initially members of Latin missionary congregations)
- Ecclesiastic Superior(s?)
(not available)
- Apostolic Prefects of Upper Kasai
- Fr. Emeri Cambier, Sceutists (C.I.C.M.) (1904 – 1918)
- Egide de Boeck, C.I.C.M. (1913 – 1916), later Apostolic Vicar of Nieuw-Antwerpen (Congo-Kinshasa) (1921.01.04 – 1936.01.27), Titular Bishop of Azotus (1921.03.10 – 1944.12.20), Apostolic Vicar of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (1936.01.27 – 1944.12.20)
- Ernest Handekijn (1916 – 1917.06.13)
- Apostolic Vicars of Upper Kasai
- Bishop Auguste Declercq, C.I.C.M. (1918.08.24 – 1938.10.29), Titular Bishop of Thignica (1918.08.24 – death 1939.11.23)
- Bishop Louis-Georges-Firmin Demol, C.I.C.M. (1938.10.29 – 1948.04.22), Titular Bishop of Vescera (1936.01.27 – 1969.07.02); succeeding as previous Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kasaï Supérieur (1936.01.23 – 1938.10.29)
- Apostolic Vicar of Luluabourg
- Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. (1949.03.10 – 1959.11.10 see below) Titular Bishop of Belali (1949.03.10 – 1959.11.10); also Apostolic Administrator of Mweka (Congo-Kinshasa) (1953 – 1957)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Luluabourg
- Archbishop Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. (see above 1959.11.10 – 1967.09.26); later Archbishop-Bishop of Lwiza (Congo-Kinshasa) (1967.09.26 – 1970.10.03), finally Titular Archbishop of Pulcheriopolis (1970.10.03 – 1986.05.17)
- Archbishop Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (1967.09.26 – 1972.06.14 see below), previously Titular Bishop of Sullectum (1966.06.21 – 1967.09.26) & Auxiliary Bishop of Luluabourg (1966.06.21 – 1967.09.26)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Kananga
- Archbishop Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (see above 1972.06.14 – 1997.03.03)
- Archbishop Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond, C.I.C.M. (1997.03.03 – 2006.05.03), previously Bishop of Lwiza (1971.08.30 – 1997.03.03)
- Archbishop Marcel Madila Basanguka (since 2006.12.09 - ...), previously Titular Bishop of Gigthi (2004.02.27 – 2006.12.09) & Auxiliary Bishop of Kananga (2004.02.27 – 2006.12.09)
Province
Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archdiocese and the following Suffragan dioceses, generally daughters (see above) :
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Kabinda
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Kole
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Luebo
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Luiza
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Mbujimayi
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Mweka
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Tshumbe
See also
Source and external links
Wikisource has the text of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Kassai.