Roman Catholic Diocese of Tzaneen

Diocese of Tzaneen Dioecesis Tzaneensis
Location
Country	South Africa
Metropolitan	Pretoria
Statistics
Area	49,472 km2 (19,101 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2004) 2,500,000 49,543 (2.3%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Joao Noe Rodrigues

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tzaneen (Latin: Tzaneen(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Tzaneen in the ecclesiastical province of Pretoria in South Africa.

History

• December 27, 1962: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Louis Trichardt from the Territorial Prelature of Pietersburg
• November 16, 1972: Promoted as Diocese of Louis Trichardt – Tzaneen
• July 18, 1987: Renamed as Diocese of Tzaneen

Special churches

• The cathedral is Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity (1954)

Patron saints of the diocese are:

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and St. Joseph

Blessed Benedict Daswa, first Catholic martyr recognized by Catholic Church in Southern Africa was beatified on 13 September 2015 in parish of Thohoyandou, the Diocese of Tzaneen.

Leadership

• Prefect Apostolic of Louis Trichardt (Roman rite)
  • Fr. John Thomas Durkin, M.S.C. (1963.02.15 – 1972.11.16 see below)
• Bishops of Diocese of Tzaneen (Roman rite)
  • Bishop John Thomas Durkin, M.S.C. (see above 1972.11.16 – 1984.06.22)
  • Bishop Hugh Patrick Slattery, M.S.C. (1984.06.22-2010.01.28)
  • Bishop Joao Noe Rodrigues (since 2010.01.28 appointed, 2010.04.18 consecrated)

See also

• Roman Catholicism in South Africa

External links

• GCatholic.org ^{[self-published]}
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}
• Diocese of Tzaneen