Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa Archidioecesis Fianarantsoaensis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Roman rite |
| Established | 10 May 1913 |
| Cathedral | Cathédrale du Saint-Nom de Jésus |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Fulgence Rabemahafaly |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fianaranintsoa is one of the five
Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
.
Its
Fianarantsoa province
.
The present Archbishop is Fulgence Rabemahafaly.
Ecclesiastical province
Its
suffragan
sees are :
- Diocese of Ambositra, a daughter see
- Diocese of Farafangana
- Diocese of Ihosy
- Diocese of Mananjary, a daughter
History
- Established on 1913.05.10 as Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar.
- Lost territories on 1935.06.18 to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Morondava(now a diocese)
- Promoted on 1955.09.14 as Diocese of Fianarantsoa
- Elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa on 11 December 1958 during Madagascar's transition from French colony to independence.
- Lost territories again to establish Diocese of Ambositra
- Enjoyed a Papal visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1989.
Statistics
As per 2014, it pastorally served 831,106 Catholics (56.5% of 1,471,000 total) on 29,400 km2 in 42 parishes and 5 missions with 126 priests (60 diocesan, 66 religious), 525 lay religious (210 brothers, 315 sisters) and 78 seminarians.[1]
It had a total population of about 1,153,750 in 2004. About 40.5% of the residents were Catholic. 121 Priests operate in the Archdiocese, making for a ratio of 3,863 Catholics per Priest.
Bishops
Ordinaries
(all Latin Rite; initially European missionary members of Latin orders) [1]
- Apostolic Vicars of Fianarantsoa
- Charles Givelet, Gindarus(1913.05.16 – 1935.12.09)
- Xavier Ferdinand J. Thoyer, S.J. (born France) (1936.12.23 – 1955.09.14 see below), Titular Bishop of Thuburbo minus(1936.12.23 – 1955.09.14)
- Suffragan Bishop of Fianarantsoa
- Xavier Ferdinand J. Thoyer, S.J. (see above 1955.09.14 – 1958.12.11 see below)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Fianarantsoa
- Xavier Ferdinand J. Thoyer, S.J. (see above 1958.12.11 – retired 1962.04.02), emeritate as Odessus(1962.04.02 – death 1970.10.07)
- Gilbert Ramanantoanina, S.J. (first native incumbent) (1962.04.02 – death 1991.01.26), also President of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (1966 – 1971); succeeded as former Titular Bishop of Auxiliary Bishopof Fianarantsoa (1960.01.12 – 1962.04.02)
- Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (1992.12.17 – retired 2002.10.01); previously Coadjutor Bishop of Antsirabe(Madagascar) (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19), succeeded as Bishop of Antsirabe (1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17)
- Apostolic Administrator of suffragan Ambositra(Madagascar) (2002.12.01 – 2005.06.24), President of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (2006 – 2012.11); previously Bishop of Ambositra (1999.06.03 – 2002.10.01).
Auxiliary Bishop
- Gilbert Ramanantoanina, S.J. (1960-1962), appointed Bishop here
Other priests of this diocese who became bishops
- Fulgence Rabemahafaly, appointed Bishop of Ambositra in 1999; later returned here as Archbishop
- Vincent Rakotozafy, appointed Bishop of Tôlagnaro in 2001
- Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona, appointed Bishop of Ambanja in 1998
See also
Sources and external links
- GCatholic with Google satellite photo - data for all sections
- Catholic-hierarchy.org profile of Archdiocese
21°27′30″S 47°05′00″E / 21.4583°S 47.0833°E
References
- ^ a b http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/fian0.htm GCatholic