Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kananga

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kananga (Latin: Kanangan(us)) is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Kananga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Special churches

The cathedral episcopal is the Cathedral: Cathédrale Saint Joseph Mikalayi Cathédrale Saint Joseph Mikalayi in Kazumba.

There is also a Pro-Cathedral is the Pro-cathédrale Saint Clément (dedicated to Pope Clement I) in Kananga.

Established on 26 July 1901 as Mission sui juris of Upper Kassai (Kasaï Supérieur), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Belgian Congo (Congo Belge)
March 18, 1904 promoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Upper Kassai
June 13, 1917, again promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Upper Kasai, hence entitled to a titular bishop
Lost territory repeatedly, to establish : the Apostolic Prefecture of Lulua Katanga on 18 July 1922, the Apostolic Prefecture of Tshumbe on 1936.05.18, the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu on 1937.04.13 and the Apostolic Prefecture of Ipamu on 1939.04.25.
March 10, 1949: Renamed as the Apostolic Vicariate of Luluabourg
Lost territories on 23 March 1953 to establish both Apostolic Vicariate of Kabinda and Apostolic Prefecture of Mweka
On 1959.04.25, lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Luebo
November 10, 1959: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Luluabourg
On 1963.11.22, lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Administration of Mbuji-Mayi
Lost territories on 1967.09.26, to Diocese of Luebo (as transfer), and establish the Diocese of Lwiza
June 14, 1972: Renamed as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kananga

(all Latin Rite, initially members of Latin missionary congregations)

(not available)

Fr. Emeri Cambier, Sceutists (C.I.C.M.) (1904 – 1918)
Egide de Boeck, C.I.C.M. (1913 – 1916), later Apostolic Vicar of Nieuw-Antwerpen (Congo-Kinshasa) (1921.01.04 – 1936.01.27), Titular Bishop of Azotus (1921.03.10 – 1944.12.20), Apostolic Vicar of Lisala (Congo-Kinshasa) (1936.01.27 – 1944.12.20)
Ernest Handekijn (1916 – 1917.06.13)

Bishop Auguste Declercq, C.I.C.M. (1918.08.24 – 1938.10.29), Titular Bishop of Thignica (1918.08.24 – death 1939.11.23)
Bishop Louis-Georges-Firmin Demol, C.I.C.M. (1938.10.29 – 1948.04.22), Titular Bishop of Vescera (1936.01.27 – 1969.07.02); succeeding as previous Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Kasaï Supérieur (1936.01.23 – 1938.10.29)

Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. (1949.03.10 – 1959.11.10 see below) Titular Bishop of Belali (1949.03.10 – 1959.11.10); also Apostolic Administrator of Mweka (Congo-Kinshasa) (1953 – 1957)

Archbishop Bernard Mels, C.I.C.M. (see above 1959.11.10 – 1967.09.26); later Archbishop-Bishop of Lwiza (Congo-Kinshasa) (1967.09.26 – 1970.10.03), finally Titular Archbishop of Pulcheriopolis (1970.10.03 – 1986.05.17)
Archbishop Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (1967.09.26 – 1972.06.14 see below), previously Titular Bishop of Sullectum (1966.06.21 – 1967.09.26) & Auxiliary Bishop of Luluabourg (1966.06.21 – 1967.09.26)

Archbishop Martin-Léonard Bakole wa Ilunga (see above 1972.06.14 – 1997.03.03)
Archbishop Godefroid Mukeng’a Kalond, C.I.C.M. (1997.03.03 – 2006.05.03), previously Bishop of Lwiza (1971.08.30 – 1997.03.03)
Archbishop Marcel Madila Basanguka (since 2006.12.09 - ...), previously Titular Bishop of Gigthi (2004.02.27 – 2006.12.09) & Auxiliary Bishop of Kananga (2004.02.27 – 2006.12.09)

Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archdiocese and the following Suffragan dioceses, generally daughters (see above) :

Wikisource has the text of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Kassai.

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