Catholic Church in Kiribati

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Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Koinawa, Abaiang, Kiribati. It is the biggest church on the island.

The Catholic Church in Kiribati is part of the worldwide

Christian church in the world. Koru Tito is Bishop of Tarawa and Nauru, with see in Kiribati
.

Demography

Kiribati is predominantly

The Constitution of Kiribati provides for freedom of religion. The Christian festivals of Christmas, Easter, and National Gospel Day are official religious holidays.[2]

History

Lying halfway between

atolls and one raised island in a vast expanse of ocean comprising three main groupings: the Gilbert Islands, Phoenix Islands, and Line Islands
.

The original inhabitants of Kiribati are an

British colony from 1916, and scene of bitter fighting during World War II, Kiribati became an independent nation in 1979.[3]

The first Catholics were locals who had returned from working in Tahiti. They invited the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) to come from France.[4] Upon the partition of the Vicariate of Micronesia, the Gilbert Islands were created as a separate vicariate by the Catholic Church in 1897. Mgr. Joseph Leray was placed at its head and, with other MSC priests, he began missionary work in the islands.[5]

In 1966, the vicariate of bishop Pierre Guichet was elevated to become the Diocese of Tarawa. In 1978, the name changed to Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti. This was split in 1982 into the Mission sui iuris of Funafuti and the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru.[6] Bishop Paul Mea, MSC, was ordained Bishop of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti, Kiribati in 1979.[7]

The Sacred Heart Cathedral is in Teaoraereke, in South Tarawa, Kiribati.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ United States Department of State
  2. ^ United States Department of State
  3. ^ United States Department of State
  4. ^ "Some MSC history, mission in Kiribati". Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Australia. 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  5. ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Gilbert Islands".
  6. ^ "Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Bishop Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea, M.S.C." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Cathedrals in Pacific Islands".