Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owando
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Owando (Latin: Ouandoën(sis)) is an archdiocese located in the city of Owando in the Republic of the Congo. The suffragan dioceses in this province are Impfondo and Ouesso.
Archdiocese of Owando Archidioecesis Ouandoensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Republic of the Congo |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 113,250 km2 (43,730 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members) | (as of 2004) 525,000 250,756 (47.8%) |
| Parishes | 24 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established |
|
| Secular priests | 32 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Victor Abagna Mossa |
Bishop (later Archbishop) Victor Abagna Mossa was born in 1946 in Makoua near Owando in northern Republic of Congo. He studied philosophy and theology and was ordained priest in 1974 Owando. He was professor and director include the small seminar Makoua then vicar general of the diocese of Owando, parish priest of St. John Vianney of Ewo then Boundji.
Chaplain of the Centre Hospitalier Regional in Namur (Belgium), director of the Sacred Heart Parish, St. Charles and Vedrin Comogne. Monsignor Abagna Mossa was newly appointed pastor of Belgrade (Namur). Monsignor Abagna Mossa arrived at Namur in 1999 through collaboration with one of his former collaborators from Namur always devoted to African causes: Xavier Hermand.
The Diocese of Owando can now count on the valuable experience and effective support from Mr. HERMAND, whose commitment in many development activities in Congo and Makoua in particular is well known.
On May 30, 2020, this Diocese was raised to Archdiocese, and Bishop Mossa became Archbishop.
History
- December 21, 1950: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Fort-Rousset from Apostolic Vicariate of Brazzaville
- September 14, 1955: Promoted as Diocese of Fort-Rousset
- December 3, 1977: Renamed as Diocese of Owando
- May 30, 2020: Elevated to Archdiocese of Owando
Bishops
Ordinaries, in reverse chronological order
- Archbishops of Owando (Roman rite), below
- Archbishop Victor Abagna Mossa (see below since May 30, 2020)
- Bishops of Owando (Roman rite), below
- Bishop Victor Abagna Mossa (February 11, 2011 - May 30, 2020 see above)
- Bishop Ernest Kombo, S.J. (1990.07.07 – 2008.10.22)
- Bishop Georges-Firmin Singha (1972.05.23 – 1988.09.01), appointed Bishop of Pointe-Noire
- Bishop of Fort-Rousset (Roman rite), below
- Bishop Emile-Elie Verhille, C.S.Sp. (1955.09.14 – 1968.03.02); see below
- Vicar Apostolic of Fort-Rousset (Roman rite), below
- Bishop Emile-Elie Verhille, C.S.Sp. (1951.06.21 – 1955.09.14); see above
Auxiliary bishop
- Georges Benoit Gassongo (1965-1970)