Catholic Church in Nauru
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The Catholic Church in Nauru is part of the worldwide
The bishopric for the island is vacant in 2023,[1][2] after the death of Koru Tito.
Demographics
The South Pacific island republic of
History
Nauru was first inhabited by Polynesians and Melanesians. Contact with European whalers began in the late 18th century.[5] Prior to the arrival of Christianity, the inhabitants of Nauru adhered to an indigenous religion which believed in the primordial establishment of the island by two spirits who had come from Kiribati. The German government annexed the island in 1888.[6]Christianity arrived in Nauru at the end of the 19th century, and began to impact Nauruan culture, brought by both a Catholic missionary and a Congregational minister. These two denominations remain the dominant religious affiliations on the island.[7][5]
The
Timothy Detudamo translated the Bible into the Nauruan language in the 1930s.[9] In 1966, the Vicariate 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.[10] Bishop Paul Mea, M.S.C. was ordained Bishop of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti, Kiribati in 1979.[11] He was succeeded in 2020 by Koru Tito; in 2023, the bishopric is vacant.
The Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter are official religious holidays in Nauru.[8] The Catholic Church remains active in education and mission work.[12] In 2020, there were 4 priests and 3 nuns serving one parish.[13]
See also
- Religion in Nauru
- Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti
- Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru
References
- ^ Catholic Hierarchy website, retrieved 2023-08-28
- ^ G Catholic website, retrieved 2023-08-28
- ^ US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ The World Factbook
- ^ a b c "BBC News | Asia-Pacific | Big tasks for a small island".
- ^ "History - Nauru - tax, issues, area, future, power, policy".
- ^ "Culture of Nauru - history, people, women, beliefs, food, family, social, dress, marriage".
- ^ a b United States Department of State 2007 report
- ^ "Culture of Nauru - history, people, women, beliefs, food, family, social, dress, marriage".
- ^ "Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Bishop Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea, M.S.C." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Culture of Nauru - history, people, women, beliefs, food, family, social, dress, marriage".
- ^ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08