Roman Catholic Diocese of Laghouat

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Diocese of Laghouat

Dioecesis Laghuatensis
Diocèse de Laghouat.PNG
Map of the Diocese of Laghouat (Shown in yellow encompassing all of southern Algeria)
Location
Country Algeria
Ecclesiastical provinceImmediately subject to the Holy See
MetropolitanLaghouat
Statistics
Area2,107,708 km2 (813,791 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)		(as of 2013)
4,324,000
1,200 (0.0%)
Information
RiteRoman
EstablishedJuly 19, 1901 (1901-07-19)
CathedralGhardaïa Cathedral (a pro-cathedral)
Secular priests11
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
BishopJohn MacWilliam, M. Afr.
Bishops emeritus, M. Afr.
Website
[1]

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Laghouat (Latin: Dioecesis Laghuatensis) is a Roman Catholic diocese, covering the sparsely populated Saharan inland of Algeria.

It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province), and depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

The bishops' seat is the pro-cathedral in Ghardaïa. The former cathedral is the now-deconsecrated church of Saint Hilarion, in the city of Laghouat.

History[]

  • Established on July 19, 1901 as Apostolic Prefecture of Ghardaïa on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Sahara and Sudan (now the Archdiocese of Bamako in present Mali), also a pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction.
  • Renamed on January 10, 1921 as Apostolic Prefecture of Ghardaïa in the Sahara (or in Italian Ghardaïa nel Sahara)
  • Promoted on June 10, 1948 as Apostolic Vicariate of Ghardaïa in the Sahara, hence entitled to a titular bishop
  • On July 5, 1954, it lost western territory to establish the then Apostolic Prefecture of Spanish Sahara and Ifni (now of Western Sahara)
  • Promoted on September 14, 1955 as Diocese of Laghouat.

Statistics[]

As per 2014, it pastorally served 1,200 Catholics (0.0% of 4,416,000 total) on 2,107,708 km² in 10 parishes with 15 priests (3 diocesan, 12 religious), 46 lay religious (17 brothers, 29 sisters) .

Ordinaries[]

Apostolic Prefects of Ghardaïa[]

  • Cardinal Charles Lavigerie (apostolic administrator 13 March 1891 – 25 November 1892)
  • (1901–1910)
  • (1911–1916)
  • (1916–1919)
  • , MAfr (28 April 1919 – 10 January 1921); see below

Apostolic Prefects of Ghardaïa nel Sahara[]

  • , MAfr (10 January 1921 – 1941); see above
  • , MAfr (1941 – 10 June 1948); see below

Apostolic Vicar of Ghardaïa nel Sahara[]

  • , MAfr (10 June 1948 – 14 September 1955); see above & below

Bishops of Laghouat[]

  1. , MAfr (14 September 1955 – 11 January 1968); see above
  2. , MAfr (11 January 1968 – 25 June 1989)
  3. , MAfr (4 February 199 – 11 June 2004)
    • , MAfr (apostolic administrator 29 April 2004 – 26 October 2004)
  4. , MAfr (26 October 2004 – 16 March 2017)
  5. John MacWilliam, MAfr (16 March 2017 – )

See also[]

Sources and external links[]

Coordinates: 32°29′00″N 3°40′00″E / 32.4833°N 3.6667°E / 32.4833; 3.6667

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