Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri (Latin: Nyerien(sis)) is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Nyeri, one of four in Kenya, Eastern Africa, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
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The cathedral episcopal see of the archbishop is Our Lady of Consolata Cathedral, in Nyeri.
History
- September 14, 1905: Established as Mission “sui iuris” of Kenya, on colonial territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Zanguebar (now Archdiocese of Nairobi)
- July 12, 1909: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Kenya, hence entitled to a titular bishop by papal brief Supremi Apostolatus by Pius IX
- March 10, 1926: Renamed after its see as Apostolic Vicariate of Nyeri, having lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Prefecture of Meru (now a suffragan diocese)
- March 23, 1953: Promoted as Diocese of Nyeri by papal bulla Quemadmodum ad Nos by Pius XII
- Lost territory on 25 November 1964 to establish the Diocese of Marsabit, now a suffragan
- Lost territory again on 17 March 1983 to establish the Diocese of Murang’a, again a suffragan
- May 21, 1990: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nyeri by papal bulla Cum in Keniana di papa by John Paul II
- Lost territory on 5 December 2002 to establish the Diocese of Nyahururu, as a suffragan.
Ecclesiastical Province
Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own Archdiocese and the following Suffragan sees :
Statistics
As per 2014, it pastorally served 490,000 Catholics (34.2% of 1,434,000 total) on 8,450 km² in 48 parishes and 39 missions with 133 priests (121 diocesan, 12 religious), 222 lay religious (72 brothers, 150 sisters) and 73 seminarians.
Bishops
(all Roman rite)
Ordinaries
- Ecclesiastical superiors of Missio sui iuris of Kenya : not available
- Apostolic Vicars of Kenya
- Filippo Perlo, Consolata Missionaries (I.M.C.) (born Italy) (15 Jul 1909 – 18 Nov 1925), Titular Bishop of Maronea (15 Jul 1909 – 4 Nov 1948), later Superior General of Consolata Missionaries (16 Feb 1926 – retired 11 Jan 1929), died 1948
- Giuseppe Perrachon, I.M.C. (born Italy) (18 Dec 1925 – 4 Jan 1926 see below), Titular Bishop of Centuria (18 Dec 1925 – death 14 Apr 1944)
- Apostolic Vicars of Nyeri
- Bishop-elect Giuseppe Perrachon, I.M.C. (see above 4 Jan 1926 – retired 18 Oct 1930), Titular Bishop of Centuria (18 Dec 1925 – death 14 Apr 1944)
- Carlo Re, I.M.C. (14 Dec 1931 – 1947) (born Italy), Titular Bishop of Hadrumetum (14 Dec 1931 – 29 Dec 1951), also Apostolic Administrator of Meru (Kenya) (1932 – 16 Sep 1936), later Bishop of Ampurias (Italy) (29 Dec 1951 – 10 Feb 1961) and Bishop of Civita–Tempio (Italy) (29 Dec 1951 – retired 10 Feb 1961), emeritate as Titular Bishop of Aspona (10 Feb 1961 – death 12 Aug 1978)
- Carlo Maria Cavallera, I.M.C. (19 Jun 1947 – 25 Mar 1953 see below), Titular Bishop of Sufes (19 Jun 1947 – 25 Mar 1953), also Apostolic Administrator of Meru (Kenya) (1947 – 3 Mar 1954)
- Suffragan Bishops of Nyeri
- Carlo Maria Cavallera, I.M.C. (born Italy) (see above 25 Mar 1953 – 25 Nov 1964), later Bishop of Marsabit (Kenya) (25 Nov 1964 – retired 1981), died 1990
- Caesar Gatimu (25 Nov 1964 – death 20 Feb 1987) (first native incumbent), previously Titular Bishop of Abila in Palæstina (18 Apr 1961 – 25 Nov 1964) & Auxiliary Bishop of Nyeri (18 Apr 1961 – 25 Nov 1964)
- Nicodemus Kirima (12 Mar 1988 – 21 May 1990 see below), previously Bishop of Mombasa (Kenya) (27 Feb 1978 – 12 Mar 1988); also President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1988 – 1991 and 1989 – 1997)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Nyeri
- Nicodemus Kirima (see above 21 May 1990 - death 27 Nov 2007)
- Apostolic Administrator (2007.12 – 19 Apr 2008) John Njue, while Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi (Kenya) (6 Oct 2007 – ...) and Cardinal-Priest of Preziosissimo Sangue di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo (24 Nov 2007 [17 Feb 2008] – ...); previously Bishop of Embu (Kenya) (9 Jun 1986 – 9 Mar 2002), President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (1997 – 2003), Coadjutor Archbishop of Nyeri (9 Mar 2002 – 6 Oct 2007), Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Isiolo (Kenya) (2005 – 25 Jan 2006), President of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (2006 – 2015), Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Murang’a (Kenya) (2006.11 – 4 Apr 2009)
- Peter J. Kairo (19 April 2008 - retired 23 April 2017), previously Bishop of Murang’a (Kenya) (17 Mar 1983 – 21 Apr 1997), Bishop of Nakuru (Kenya) (21 Apr 1997 – 19 Apr 2008)
- Anthony Muheria (23 Apr 2017 – ...): previously Bishop of Embu (Kenya) (30 Oct 2003 – 28 Jun 2008), Bishop of Kitui (Kenya) (28 Jun 2008 – 23 Apr 2017), Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Machakos (Kenya) (2015.02 – 23 Apr 2017).
Coadjutor Archbishop
- John Njue (2002-2007), did not succeed to see; appointed Archbishop of Nairobi (Cardinal in 2007)
Auxiliary Bishop
- Caesar Gatimu (1961-1964), appointed Bishop here
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
- James Maria Wainaina Kungu (priest here, 1984-2002), appointed Bishop of Muranga in 2009
- Joseph Ndembu Mbatia (priest here, 1989-2003), appointed Bishop of Nyahururu in 2011
Parishes by Deanery
The Archdiocese of Nyeri consists of eight Deaneries, which comprise the following parishes :
- Nyeri Municipality Deanery
- Cathedral Parish
- St. Jude Parish
- King’ong’o Parish
- Mwenji Parish
- Kiamuiru Parish
- Mathari Institutions Chaplaincy
- St. Charles Lwanga Parish
- Mukurwe-ini Deanery
- Mukurwe-ini Parish
- Kaheti Parish
- Kimondo Parish
- Gikondi Parish
- Othaya Deanery
- Othaya Parish
- Kariko Parish
- Birithia Parish
- Karima Parish
- Kagicha Parish
- Karuthi Parish
- Kigumo Parish
- Nanyuki Deanery
- Nanyuki Parish
- Dol Dol Parish
- Matanya Parish
- St. Teresa Parish
- Kalalu Parish
- Narumoru Deanery
- Narumoru Town Parish
- Irigithathi Parish
- Thegu Parish
- Kiganjo Parish
- Munyu Parish
- Karatina Deanery
- Karatina Parish
- Miiri Parish
- Giakaibei Parish
- Gikumbo Parish
- Gathugu Parish
- Ngandu Parish
- Kabiru-ini Parish
- Kahira-ini Parish
- Tetu Deanery
- Tetu Parish
- Wamagana Parish
- Kigogo-ini Parish
- Itheguri Parish
- Gititu Parish
- Kagaita Parish
- Giakanja Parish
- Karangia Parish (Karangia LC, Mathakwaini LC,Kiambugu LC, Ihithe LC, Hubuini LC)*Local Church
- Gatarakwa Deanery
- Mweiga Parish
- Endarasha Parish
- Gatarakwa Parish
- Karemeno Parish
- Mugunda Parish
- Sirima Parish
- Winyumiririe Parish
- Kamariki Parish
Contacts
Nyeri Catholic Secretariat, P.O. Box 288 - 10100, Nyeri. Tel: +254 721 785 169
See also
- Archdiocese of Nyeri [1]
- List of Catholic dioceses in Kenya
- Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops [2]
Sources and external links
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Wikisource has the text of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article Vicariate Apostolic of Kenia. |
- GCatholic.org - data for all sections
- archdiocese
- Vicariate Apostolic of Kenia, in Catholic Encyclopedia, New York, Encyclopedia Press, 1913
- "Archdiocese of Nyeri – UT ESSEMUS SANCTI". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
- "KENYA CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS — "You shall be my witnesses" (ACTS 1:8) ...for the Sanctification and Salvation of all People". Retrieved 2020-05-30.