Military Ordinariate of the South African Defence Force
The Military Ordinariate of the South African Defence Force is a military ordinariate of the Catholic Church that provides pastoral care to 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
- John Colburn Garner, while first Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria ; previously Titular Bishop of Tracula and last Apostolic Vicar of Pretoria
- George Francis Daniel, while Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria
Military Ordinaries
- George Francis Daniel
- Paul Mandla Khumalo, Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, while Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria ; previously Bishop of Witbank
- William Slattery, Order of Friars Minor, while Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria ; previously Bishop of Kokstad
- Dabula Anthony Mpako, simultaneously appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Pretoria; previously Bishop of Queenstown