Diocese of Kisantu, Congo-Kinshasa 🇨🇩

Continent: Eastern and Central Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kisantu / Kisantuen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Kinshasa

Neighbouring Dioceses: Matadi (←), Kinkala (↖), Kinshasa (↑), Kenge (→), Popokabaka (↘), Uíje (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1931.04.01: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Kisantu / Kisantuen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Kwango)
1935.01.28: Gained territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Kwango
1950.05.24: Lost territory to Apostolic Vicariate of Léopoldville
1957.07.05: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Kenge
1959.11.10: Promoted as Diocese of Kisantu / Kisantuen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Léopoldville)
1961.06.24: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Popokabaka

Present Prelates

Bishop (2022.06.11 – ...):

Bishop Jean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda (56)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kisantu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean-Crispin Kimbeni Ki Kanda (56)
(2022.06.11 – ...)

Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa)

Born:	1969.10.22 (Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1999.05.30
Consecrated Bishop:	2020.10.10

Priest of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (1999.05.30 – 2020.06.29)

Titular Bishop of Dragonara (2020.06.29 – 2022.06.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kinshasa (Congo-Kinshasa) (2020.06.29 – 2022.06.11)

Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (2022.06.11 – ...)

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap. (66)
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.11.23 – 2022.06.11)

Bishop Fidèle Nsielele Zi Mputu (75)
(1994.06.10 – 2020.11.21)

Bishop emeritus of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa)

Communio in veritate

Born:	1950.07.21 (Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1976.09.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1994.09.25

Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1994.06.10 – 2020.11.21)

Bishop Antoine Mayala ma Mpangu
(1973.04.27 – 1993.03.31)

Fidèle à la foi

Born:	1926.03.03 (Nselo, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1957.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1971.11.21
Died:	1993.03.31 († 67)

Titular Bishop of Flenucleta (1971.08.30 – 1973.04.27)

Coadjutor Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1971.08.30 – 1973.04.27)

Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1973.04.27 – 1993.03.31)

Archbishop Pierre Kimbondo
(1961.06.24 – 1973.04.27)

Born:	1914.02.15 (Mvunzu, Congo-Kinshasa)
Ordained Priest:	1943.08.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.11.18
Died:	1977.07.12 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Sebela (1956.08.09 – 1961.06.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1956.08.09 – 1961.06.24)

Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1961.06.24 – 1973.04.27)

Archbishop ad personam (1971.11.08 – 1973.04.27)

Bishop Alfonso Verwimp, S.J.
(1959.11.10 – 1960.10.27)

Born:	1885.05.22 (Gheel, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1917.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1931.10.28
Died:	1964.10.11 (Mol, Belgium † 79)

Titular Bishop of Uccula (1931.07.02 – 1959.11.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1931.07.02 – 1959.11.10)

Bishop of Kisantu (Congo-Kinshasa) (1959.11.10 – 1960.10.27)

Titular Bishop of Gibba (1960.10.27 – 1964.10.11)

Vicars Apostolic of Kisantu (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alfonso Verwimp, S.J.
(1931.07.02 – 1959.11.10)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Antoine Mayala ma Mpangu (1971.08.30 – 1973.04.27)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Pierre Kimbondo (later Archbishop) (1956.08.09 – 1961.06.24)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Sept Douleurs, Kisantu, Kongo Central

Matadi (←), Kinkala (↖), Kinshasa (↑), Kenge (→), Popokabaka (↘), Uíje (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 31,000 km²

Population: 1,123,960 Catholics (76.8% of 1,462,820 total)

Pastoral Centres: 35 parishes

Personnel: 248 priests (129 diocesan, 119 religious), 731 religious (297 brothers, 434 sisters), 56 seminarians