The Roman Catholic Diocese of Uvira () is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church located in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Established on 16 April 1962, the diocese encompasses the pastoral zones of Uvira Territory, Fizi Territory, and Mwenga Territory, and it partially includes the territories of Walungu Territory and Kabambare Territory. It is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bukavu.
Location and history The Diocese of Uvira covers approximately 36,000 square kilometers, with a population of around 1.5 million people as of 2014. Nearly 500,000 residents are Roman Catholics. The diocese includes diverse landscapes, such as mountains, plateaus, and the lowlands of the Ruzizi Valley near Lake Tanganyika.
The diocese was created from parts of neighboring dioceses and territories to serve the growing Catholic population in South Kivu. It has contributed to the religious, educational, and social development of the region.
Bishops Bishops of Uvira (Latin Rite) NameTenureDetailDanilo Catarzi16 April 1962–26 March 1981Léonard Dhejju26 March 1981–2 July 1984Appointed Bishop of BuniaJérôme Gapangwa Nteziryayo1 July 1985–1998Jean-Pierre Tafunga Mbayo1998–2008Sede vacante 1 August 2008–14 October 2013Sébastien-Joseph Muyengo MulombeSince 15 October 2013
Organization The diocese is administered by the Episcopal Curia, which handles administrative and pastoral affairs. It is led by Apostolic Administrator Mgr. François-Xavier Maroy Rusengo, who serves in place of a resident bishop. He is assisted by senior diocesan officials, including the Vicar General, Chancellor, and Economist General.
The diocesan personnel includes clergy and religious members, including 69 diocesan priests, 20 male religious (brothers), and 76 female religious (sisters), who serve in pastoral, educational, and social roles. The General Finance Office (Économat Général) manages the diocese's financial affairs. For priestly formation, the diocese operates the Spiritual Propedeutic Seminary Saint-Pierre Claver of Kiringye (Propédeutique spirituelle Saint-Pierre Claver de Kiringye), founded in 1992 to trains candidates for the priesthood. The diocese also operates the Bethany Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled (Centre Béthanie de réhabilitation pour handicapés), which helps people with disabilities, and the Caritas Medical Center, which provides healthcare services to disadvantaged groups. The Catechetical Center in Kavimvira provides religious instruction, while the Formation Center for Lay Collaborators in Kamituga trains laypeople for pastoral work.
The diocese consists of 18 parishes and has a cathedral as its main church. It also operates 281 educational institutions and 31 charitable institutions across its territory.
The diocese is divided into three pastoral zones: Pastoral ZoneParish and locationYear foundedNotable institutions and servicesZone Pastorale de la Plaine de la Ruzizi (Uvira)Uvira (Saint-Paul Cathedral)1933Diocesan pharmacy, health center, cultural center Baeza la ParokiaKavimvira–Site of the Marian sanctuary and a reference health centerKiliba (Saint-Joseph Ouvrier)1959It has a pharmacy and a health centerLuvungi (Sainte-Famille)1967Includes a garage, social center, and health reference centerMulenge-Kidote (Saints Martyrs Baganda)1963Includes a social centerZone Pastorale de FiziFizi (Saint-Jean-Baptiste)1962Multiple social centersBaraka (Cœur Immaculé de Marie)1948Dispensary, social servicesMboko (Saint-Pierre Apôtre)1973Nutritional center, dispensaryNakiliza (Saint-Michel Archange)1955–Zone Pastorale de MwengaMwenga (Sainte-Marie)1959Social center, reference health centerSaint-Hilaire1928Petit Séminaire Notre-Dame d’Afrique (Seminary)Kamituga (Saint-François Xavier)1948Training center for laity, services for the disabledKitutu (Saint-Esprit)1967Social center, reference health centerKasiba (Saint-Mukasa)1972–Minembwe (under Fizi zone)1992– Congregations of religious women CongregationLocation(s) of serviceSœurs Filles de Marie Reine des Apôtres (Bukavu)UviraSœurs Filles de la Résurrection (Bukavu)KasikaSœurs Benebikira (Rwanda)UviraSœurs Missionnaires de Marie (Xaverian Sisters)Uvira, Luvungi, Kamituga, NakilizaSœurs de la Compagnie de Marie Notre-DameMbokoSœurs Missionnaires de Sainte GemmaKavimvira, MwengaSœurs de Saint Joseph de TurinUvira, Baraka, SangeSœurs Piccole Figlie dei Sacri Cuori di Gesù e MariaFizi, UviraSœurs Franciscaines de Notre Seigneur del MonteKidote Sœurs ClarissesUvira
See also Roman Catholicism in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
References
External links GCatholic.org Catholic Hierarchy