DIOCESE OF WITBANK

PATRONS:
St Peter Claver

St Therese of the Child Jesus
 

 
Right Reverend
GIUSEPPE SANDRI MCCJ
Appointed bishop of Witbank on 17 November 2009. Ordained on the 31 January 2010

Postal Address:
Po Box 651
Witbank 1035
Tel: (013) 656 6827
Fax: (013) 656 1817
Email: diocesewitbank@yebo.co.za

History

By Papal Decree 12 June 1923, the Eastern Transvaal (Mpumalanga) was separated from the Transvaal Vicariate and entrusted to Missionaries, Sons of the Sacred Heart (MSFC). In 1979 the MFSC rejoined the Verona Fathers (FSCJ) and are now known as the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ).

The Lydenburg Prefecture was raised to the status of a Vicariate on 9 December 1948. Following the establishment of the hierarchy in South Africa, the Vicariate was raised to the status of a diocese on 11 January 1951.

On the 23 June 1958, a number of magisterial districts on the southern boundary of the diocese were excised and incorporated in the Volksrust Prefecture. On the 13 September 1964 the name of the diocese changed to Lydenburg‑Witbank by papal decree and on the 10 November 1988 to Witbank.

The diocese comprises the magisterial districts of Barberton, Belfast, Carolina, Kamhlushwa, Lydenburg, Mapulaneng, Mhala, Middelburg, Nebo, Nelspruit, Nsikazi, Pilgrim’s Rest, Sekhukhune, Waterval‑Boven, White River, Witbank, and portions of Eerstehoek and Groblersdal. Some of these districts are located in the province of Mpumlanga, others in that of Limpopo.

Area:  56 886 sq.km.                      Total Pop. 2 445 000                         Cath. Pop. 103 000

Predecessors

Prefect Apostolic Daniel Kauczor MFSC: 1923-1926
Prefect Apostolic Aloysius Mohn MFSC: 1926-1939
Bishop Johannes Reigler MFSC: 1939-1955
Bishop Anton Reiterer MCCJ: 1956-1983
Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe: 1983-2000; transferred to Pietersburg Diocese 04/06/2000
Bishop Paul Mandla Khumalo CMM: 2001-2009; transferred to Pretoria Archdiocese 25/01/2009

Administration

Vicar General: Rev Fr. Linda Protas Zwane, Catholic Church, PO Box 620, Neslpruit 1200, Tel. 013 752 2559; Fax 013 755 2189.

Financial Administrator: Deacon Brian William Elliott, PO Box 651, Witbank 1035.

Tel & Fax: 013 656 6827 (Res) 013 692 5388.

Email: diocesewitbank@yebo.co.za

For further information, please go to the Diocese of Witbank