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Archdiocese of Maseru, Lesotho 🇱🇸

Celebrations

History

  • 1894.05.08: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Basutoland / Basutolanden(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Orange Free State)
  • 1909.02.18: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Basutoland / Basutolanden(sis) (Latin)
  • 1951.01.11: Promoted as Diocese of Maseru / Maseruen(us) (Latin) (became suffragan of Bloemfontein)
  • 1952.12.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Leribe
  • 1961.01.03: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Maseru / Maseruen(us) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Leribe and Qacha’s Nek and lost territory to establish Diocese of Qacha’s Nek)
  • 1977.11.10: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek and gained suffragan see Mohale’s Hoek

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Maseru (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I. (70)Archbishop Gerard Tlali Lerotholi, O.M.I. (70)
(2009.06.30 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho)

Archbishop Bernard Mosiuoa Mohlalisi, O.M.I.
(1990.06.11 – 2009.06.30)

Archbishop Alfonso Liguori Morapeli, O.M.I.
(1967.04.13 – 1989.05.17)

Born:1929.05.25
Ordained Priest:1958.12.14
Consecrated Bishop:1967.06.29
Died:1989.05.17 († 59)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1967.04.13 – 1989.05.17)

Apostolic Administrator of Leribe (Lesotho) (1968.06.18 – 1970.07)

President of Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1972 – 1982)

Archbishop Emanuel Mabathoama, O.M.I.
(1961.01.03 – 1966.09.20)

Born:1904.12.29
Ordained Priest:1934.06.28
Consecrated Bishop:1953.03.25
Died:1966.09.20 († 61)

Bishop of Leribe (Lesotho) (1952.12.11 – 1961.01.03)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1961.01.03 – 1966.09.20)

Bishops of Maseru (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Delphis Desrosiers, O.M.I.
(1951.01.11 – 1961.01.03)

In omnibus Christus

Born:1906.02.23 (Canada)
Ordained Priest:1930.07.06
Consecrated Bishop:1948.06.29
Died:1989.06.22 († 83)

Titular Bishop of Pachnemunis (1948.03.11 – 1951.01.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1948.03.11 – 1951.01.11)

Bishop of Maseru (Lesotho) (1951.01.11 – 1961.01.03)

Bishop of Qacha’s Nek (Lesotho) (1961.01.03 – 1981)

Vicars Apostolic of Basutoland (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Delphis Desrosiers, O.M.I.
(1948.03.11 – 1951.01.11)

(see above)

Bishop Joseph Bonhomme, O.M.I.
(1933.04.25 – 1947.03.08)

Impendam et superimpendar

Born:1889.01.29 (Canada)
Ordained Priest:1918.05.18
Consecrated Bishop:1933.06.28
Died:1973.08.06 († 84)

Vicar Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1933.04.25 – 1947.03.08)

Titular Bishop of Tulana (1933.04.25 – 1973.08.06)

Bishop Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I.
(1909.01.25 – 1930.05.24)

Born:1865.03.09 (France)
Ordained Priest:1890.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:1909.05.01
Died:1944.03.02 († 78)

Prefect Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1895 – 1909.01.25)

Vicar Apostolic of Basutoland (Lesotho) (1909.01.25 – 1930.05.24)

Titular Bishop of Nicopolis in Armenia (1909.01.25 – 1944.03.02)

Prefects Apostolic of Basutoland (Roman Rite)

Fr. Jules-Joseph Cénez, O.M.I. (later Bishop)
(1895 – 1909.01.25)

(see above)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 7,739 km²

Population: 495,181 Catholics (50.2% of 987,222 total)

Pastoral Centres: 36 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 62 priests (23 diocesan, 39 religious), 249 religious (65 brothers, 184 sisters), 20 seminarians