The Holy Father has erected the diocese of Tshilomba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with territory taken from the diocese of Luiza, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan archdiocese of Kananga.
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Sebastien Kenda Ntumba, of the clergy of Luiza, until now parish priest of Saint Anthony of Padua in Kalomba, as the first bishop of Tshilomba, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Msgr. Sebastian Kenda Ntumba was born on 11 June 1960 in Tshiona, in the diocese of Luiza. In 1980 he received a diploma in Humanités Littéraires from the minor seminary of Kamponde. From 1980 to 1983 he studied philosophy at the Saint François Xavier major seminary in Mbujumayi. He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on 9 August 1987 in Tshibala.
He has held the following offices: formator in the minor seminary in Kamponde (1987-1990), parish priest in the parishes of Saint Jean in Yangala and Sainte Marie Alacoque in Winkon, dean and head of the diocesan office for pastoral ministry (1990-2003), fidei donum priest in the diocese of Agrigento, parish administrator of the parish of the Trasfigurazione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo in the Villaggio Giordano in Palma di Montechiaro (2003-2012), vicar forane (2008-2012), parish administrator of the parish of Maria Santissima della Catena (2012-2013), and parish administrator of the parish of San Nicola alle Fontanelle in Agrigento (2014-2016).
After receiving a licentiate in theology in Palermo, he served as lecturer in the diocesan seminary of Agrigento from 2016 to 2017. Since 2017 he has served as parish priest of Saint Anthony of Padua in Kalomba.
STATISTICAL DATA
The newly-erected diocese of Tshilomba [Latin: Tshilomban(a)] is situated in the civil district of Lomami. It occupies the eastern part of Luiza, including the cities of Tshilomba and Mwene-Ditu, the collectives of Katshisungu, Kanincin and Mulundu, and the sector of Kanda-Kanda.
It will be a suffragan of the metropolitan archdiocese of Kananga. The seat of the diocese will be in the city of Tshilomba. The Cathedral of the new circumscription will be the parish church of Saint Jacques in Tshilomba.
1. The statistical data of the new diocese of Tshilomba are as follows:
| Area km2 | 11,747 |
| Population | 1,320,000 |
| Catholics | 792,000 |
| Parishes | 27 |
| Diocesan priests | 76 |
| Major seminaries | 23 |
| Deacons | 4 |
| Female religious institutes | 2 Pontifical and 3 Diocesan |
| Women religious | 233 |
| Male religious institutes | Pontifical 2 |
| Religious | 6 |
| Catechists | 213 |
| Catholic schools | 249 |
| Healthcare institutes | 40 |
2. The statistical data of the diocese of Luiza after dismemberment are as follows:
| Area km2 | 21,777 |
| Population | 1,230,000 |
| Catholics | 738,000 |
| Parishes | 26 |
| Diocesan priests | 79 |
| Major seminaries | 15 |
| Deacons | 2 |
| Female religious institutes | 0 Pontifical and 3 Diocesan |
| Women religious | 106 |
| Male religious institutes | Diocesan 1 |
| Men religious | 32 |
| Catechists | 219 |
| Catholic schools | 237 |
| Healthcare institutes | 53 |
