Brief History Of The
Archdiocese of Monrovia
- 1903The Archdiocese of Monrovia was formerly called the Apostolic Prefecture of Liberia. It was created on April 18, 1903.
- 1911 – 1931Bishop Jean Oge, SMA, was sent by the Holy See and became the first Prefect Apostolic, serving from January 3, 1911, to November 16, 1931.
- 1932Upon the death of Bishop Oge on November 16, 1931, Bishop John Collins, SMA, was appointed Prefect Apostolic. He served from February 26, 1932, to December 20, 1960. Age made him resign.
- 1934The Apostolic Prefecture of Liberia was elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Liberia on April 9, 1934.
- 1950The name was changed to the Vicariate Apostolic of Monrovia on February 2, 1950. During Bishop John Collins’ tenure, six members of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary arrived in Liberia to start St. Teresa’s School.
- 1960 – 1976He was replaced by Bishop Francis Carroll, SMA, the second Vicar Apostolic, who served from December 20, 1960, to October 28, 1976. Bishop Carroll had earlier served as Prefect Apostolic of the Apostolic Prefecture of Cape Palmas in 1950 before being transferred to Monrovia.
- 1976 – 1981Bishop Michael Kpakala Francis was appointed and took over from Bishop Francis Carroll as the 3rd Vicar Apostolic of Monrovia, serving from October 28, 1976, to December 19, 1981.
- 1981On December 19, 1981, the Monrovia Vicariate was elevated to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Monrovia. Bishop Michael K. Francis became Archbishop. On the same date, the Cape Palmas Diocese was created, and Monrovia was separated from it.
- 1989With Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis, the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Monrovia grew steadily until fate struck the nation on December 24, 1989 — the start of the Liberian Civil War.
- 1990During the war, Reverend Father Damien Quashie met his demise in 1990.
- 1992Two years later, in October 1992, five members of the Adorers of the Precious Blood of Jesus were murdered.
- 2003On March 6, 2003, Archbishop Michael K. Francis fell ill. Rev. Fr. Harry O’Brien, SDB, the Vicar General, took charge of the Archdiocese and served from 2003 to 2005.
- 2005 – 2009Rev. Fr. Andrew Jagaye Karnley (now Bishop Karnley of Cape Palmas) was appointed Apostolic Administrator by the Holy See. He served from February 22, 2005, to November 15, 2009.
- 2009 – 2011Bishop Lewis Jerome Zeigler of the Diocese of Gbarnga was asked to run the affairs of the Archdiocese on July 11, 2009. He was brought to Monrovia as Coadjutor Bishop to assist Archbishop Michael K. Francis. Bishop Zeigler served from July 11, 2009, to February 12, 2011.
- 2011 – 2021On February 12, 2011, Bishop Lewis Jerome Zeigler became the Archbishop of Monrovia upon the resignation of Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis. He served until his resignation in 2021 due to age.
- 2021On June 7, 2021, Very Rev. Fr. Charles Edmund Boyce was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese. He died on September 21, 2021, after a period of illness. Rev. Msgr. Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe was appointed Diocesan Administrator on October 1, 2021, replacing Fr. Boyce.
- 2023On February 28, 2023, Msgr. Jubwe was appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Monrovia, becoming the 3rd Archbishop of Monrovia.
- 2025 - PresentAt the moment, the Archdiocese is growing. It has 25 parishes and many outstations; 4 primary schools, 6 junior high schools, 19 high schools, and one university. The clergy and religious include 35 diocesan priests, 13 major seminarians, 36 religious sisters, 14 religious brothers, 22 religious order priests, 2 religious order seminarians, and a number of pastoral workers.