DIOCESE OF ESHOWE

(Province of Durban)

PATRON:
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
 

 

Right Reverend
Bishop XOLELO THADDAEUS KUMALO
Appointed 11th March 2008 and ordained Bishop on 7th June 2008 at the Little Flower grounds, Eshowe.

Address:
Bishop’s House
Private Bag 553, Eshowe 3815
Tel: (035) 474 1283 or Tel: (035) 474 4151, Fax: (035) 474 4644
E-mail: bishop@eshowe.org
Website: www.eshowe.org

BISHOP’S BIOGRAPHY

Bishop Kumalo was born on 2 July 1954 in Gogele in the Diocese of Kokstad, South Africa. He finished high school at St. Paul’s Minor Seminary in Hammanskraal. In 1976 he became a Franciscan postulant and in 1979 entered the Novitiate. After a year of philosophy studies at the Franciscan Study Centre in Wingate Park, he left the order of his own accord and was sent by the Bishop of Witbank to St. John Vianney National Seminary (affiliated with the Pontifical Urbaniana University) to continue his studies. He was ordained a Deacon for the Diocese of Witbank in 1985. After some years working as a clerk in a steel factory, the Bishop of Bethlehem accepted him into his Diocese. As a Deacon he was sent to study at Boston College in the United States. Upon his return home, he was ordained a priest in 1991 and incardinatedi n the Diocese of Bethlehem. After ordination, he served as a Parochial vicar from 1991 to 1993 and then as a Pastor until 1996, after which he served as Episcopal Vicar for Catechists from 1995 to 1995, Pastor and head of the John Paul II Formation Centre from 1996 to1999, Vicar General from 2000 to 2006 and Financial Administrator of the Diocese of Bethlehem since 2007. He has been appointed Bishop of Eshowe on the 11 March 2008 and ordained bishop on the 7 June 2008.

HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE

The Prefecture of Zululand was erected on the 27 August 1921 and entrusted to the Benedictine Congregation of St Ottilien.  Before that time it had formed part of Natal Vicariate.  On 11 December 1923 it was raised to the status of a Vicariate under the title of “Vicariate Apostolic of Eshowe”.  With the establishment of the Hierarchy in South Africa it became the Diocese of Eshowe on the 11 January 1951.  This Diocese now comprises Zululand proper, (with the exception of the districts of Ingwavuma, Ubombo and Hlabisa), and the four Natal districts of Vryheid, Paulpietersburg, Ngotshe and Babanango.  It is bound on the East by the Indian Ocean, on the South by the Tugela River, on the West by the Tugela, Buffalo, Blood and Didusini Rivers, and in the North by the Pongola and Umfolozi Rivers.

Area: 26 364 sq.km.         Total Pop: 2 500 000               Cath. Pop: 81 500

FORMER BISHOPS

– Rt Rev Bishop Thomas Spreiter, OSB, Titular Bishop of Thaenae. Consecrated 1 May 1906 as second Vicar Apostolic of Dar-es-Salaam; Prefect Apostolic of Zululand 27 August 1921; first Vicar Apostolic of Eshowe 11 December 1923; resigned 14 May 1943, died 27 January 1944 at Inkamana.
– Rev Theodos Schall OSB, Administrator Apostolic from 14 May 1943 to 3 August 1947.
– Rt Rev Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri OSB, appointed 12 June 1947. Consecrated Titular Bishop of Germanicopolos and second Vicar Apostolic of Eshowe 14 September 1947. First Bishop of Eshowe 11 January 1951.  Died 24 July 1973 at Mtunzini.
– Rt Rev Bishop Mansuet Dela Biyase, appointed Bishop on 28th February 1975. He was ordained Bishop on 28 June 1975. He died on 1 July 2005.

ADMINISTRATION

Diocesan Office
Private Bag 553, Eshowe 3815
Tel: (035) 474 4151, Fax: (035) 474 4644
E-mail: dioofesh@mweb.co.za

Vicar General
Fr David Mthiyane
Private Bag 553, Eshowe 3815
Tel: (035) 474 4151, Fax: (035) 474 4644

For further information, please go to the Diocese of Eshowe