Military Ordinariate of the South African Defence Force


The Military Ordinariate of the South African Defence Force is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church to provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the South African National Defence Force and their families.
It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, not part of any ecclesiastical province. Since its inception, it has been held by the Metropolitan Archbishops of South Africa's national capital Pretoria and has no proper episcopal see of its own.
As per 2014, it comprises a single parish and only eight 'diocesan' priests. The current incumbent is the Metropolita Dabula Anthony Mpako, since 30 April 2019.

History

It was established as Military vicariate of the South African Defence Force on 17 May 1951. It originally provided chaplains to the South African Defence Force.
It was promoted as Military Ordinariate of the South African Defence Force on 21 July 1986. Following the dismantling of the apartheid system it now provides chaplains to the South African National Defence Force.

Episcopal ordinaries

Military Vicars