Roman Catholic Diocese of Bata
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bata (Latin: Bataën(sis)) is a suffragan Latin diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Its cathedral episcopal see is the St. James and Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral, dedicated to Saint James the Elder and Our Lady of Pilar, in the city of Bata.
History
[edit]- Established on August 9, 1965 as Apostolic Vicariate of Río Muni, on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Fernando Poo
- Promoted on May 3, 1966 as Diocese of Bata
- It enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in February 1982.
- Lost territories twice : on 1982.10.15 to establish the Diocese of Ebebiyín and on 2017.04.01 to establish the Diocese of Evinayong
Statistics
[edit]As per 2017, it pastorally served 76,200 Catholics (69.3% of 109,910 total) on 6,681 km² in 18 parishes with 53 priests (35 diocesan, 18 religious), 105 lay religious (61 brothers, 44 sisters) and 9 seminarians.
Episcopal ordinaries
[edit](all Roman rite)
- Apostolic Vicar of Río Muni
- Rafael María Nze Abuy, Claretians (C.M.F.) (1965.08.09 – 1966.05.03 see below)
- Suffragan Bishops of Bata
- Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. (see above 1966.05.03 – 1974.05.09 see below)
- Apostolic Administrator Father Ildefonso Obama Obono (1971 – 1975), without previous prelature; later Bishop of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (1982.10.15 – 1991.07.09), Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1991.07.09 – retired 2015.02.11) and President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (2000 – ...)
- Apostolic Administrator Vicente Bernikon (1975 – 1976), while Bishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1974.05.09 – 1976.09.14)
- Rafael María Nze Abuy, C.M.F. (see above 1980.06.26 – 1982.10.21), next Metropolitan Archbishop of Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) (1982.10.21 – death 1991.07.07) and President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (1983 – 1991.07.07)
- Anacleto Sima Ngua (1982.11.19 – retired 2002.05.11), President of Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (1992 – 2000), President of Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central Africa Region (2000 – 2002)
- Juan Matogo Oyana, C.M.F. (2002.05.11 - ...), previously Bishop of Ebebiyín (Equatorial Guinea) (1991.10.11 – 2002.05.11); later[clarification needed] Apostolic Administrator of Ebebiyín (2006.08.30 – 2011.02.19).