Dedza Diocese

RIGHT REVEREND EMMANUEL COSMAS KANYAMA

HISTORICAL NOTE:
By the Apostolic letter, Etsi Quotidie, of 30th April 1956, the Holy See erected the Vicariate Apostolic of Dedza. It was in 1959 that Dedza became a Diocese. The Diocese of Dedza comprises the two districts of the Central Region of Malawi,
thus, Dedza and Ntcheu. It also covers a small part of Salima District. Before, the District of Dedza was part of the Likuni Vicariate while the District of Ntcheu belonged to the Zomba Vicariate.

LOCAL ORDINARY:
The Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Cosmas Kanyama (DP) was born in the District of Dedza at Kanyama Village, Traditional Authority Kasumbu, on 25th December 1962. He was ordained Priest on 4th August 1990 at Mtendere Parish where his parents settled. The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kanyama Bishop of Dedza on 4th July 2007. On 6th October 2007, Rev. Fr. Kanyama was consecrated and installed as Bishop of Dedza at Bembeke Cathedral.

STATISTICS:
Area Square Kilometres: 4, 250
Population: 1,562,386
Catholics: 469,726
Catechumens: 494,511
Full Time Catechists: 41
Volunteer Catechists: 23
Deaneries: 03
Parishes 16

PATRON: St. Martin de Porres.