DIOCESE OF MARIANNHILL
Right Reverend
BISHOP PIUS MLUNGISI DLUNGWANE
Bishop of Mariannhill
Appointed titular bishop of Altino and was ordained auxiliary bishop of Mariannhill on 6 August 2000. He was installed as the Bishop of Mariannhill on 6 August 2006
Address
Bishop’s House
PO Box 11001
Mariannhill 3624
Tel: (031) 700 2704, Fax: (031) 700 5600
E-mail: dlungwanem@myconnection.co.za
HISTORY
In 1882 Prior Franz Pfanner of the Reformed Cistercians (Trappists) intended establishing a Trappist Monastery and commencing the work of evangelisation among the local Africans. In 1885 he became Abbot of the new foundation which he called Mariannhill. He resigned from office in 1893 and was succeeded by Abbots Amandus Scholzig who died in 1900 and Gerard Wolpert. Abbot Franz Pfanner died on the 24 May 1909, and about the same time Rome separated the Mariannhill Abbey from the Trappist Order. Mariannhill was constituted an independent Missionary Congregation with the official title: The Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM).
In 1921 the Mariannhill Vicariate (up to then part of the Natal Vicariate) was erected and comprised the southern part of Natal and all Transkeian territories. It was sub divided in 1930 and again in 1935. Those territories now form the Dioceses of Umtata and Kokstad and part of Queenstown. Divided again in 1954, the territory of the Diocese of Umzimkulu was detached.Civil districts within the ecclesiastical boundaries of the Diocese of Mariannhill comprise Ixopo, Impendle, Richmond, Umzinto, Umbumbulu, parts of Port Shepstone, Camperdown and Pinetown, Polela and Underberg.
Area: 12 612 sq.km. Total Pop: 1 666 100 Cath. Pop: 261 122
FORMER BISHOPS
– Rt Rev Bishop Adalbero Fleischer CMM, consecrated Titular Bishop of Tiberiopolis and Vicar Apostolic of Mariannhill in 1922, was nominated Papal Count and Assistant at the Pontifical Throne on 2 June 1947. He resigned 17 April 1950 and died 19 March 1963.
– Rt Rev Bishop Alphonse Streit CMM was appointed 23 December 1950 as Titular Bishop of Niciatana; consecrated on 3 April 1951 and installed as Bishop of Mariannhill on 5 July 1951. He died on 21 June 1970.
– Rt Rev Bishop Martin Elmar Schmid CMM was appointed on the 20 June 1970; ordained Bishop at Mariannhill on 10 October 1970 and installed the same day. He died 18 June 1980.
– Rt Rev Bishop Paul Themba Mngoma was Appointed Bishop on 14 March 1981, he was ordained Bishop of Mariannhill on 23 May 1981 and took Canonical possession of the Diocese of Mariannhill on 25 May 1981. He died 15 June 2005.
ADMINISTRATION
Diocesan Chancery
PO Box 11001, Mariannhill Monastery 3624
Tel: (031) 700 2704, Fax: (031) 700 5600
Vicar General
Fr Angelicus Chiliza
For further information, please go to the Diocese of Mariannhill