Roman Catholic Diocese of Ambanja
| Diocese of Ambanja Dioecesis Ambaniaënsis | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Madagascar |
| Metropolitan | Antsiranana |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 34,083 km2 (13,160 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2006) 1,241,000 109,217 (8.8%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Saint Joseph Cathedral[1] |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Rosario Saro Vella, S.D.B. |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ambanja (Latin: Ambaniaën(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Ambanja in the Ecclesiastical province of Antsiranana in Madagascar.
History
On September 4, 1848, the Apostolic Prefecture of Isole di Mayotta, Nossi-Bé e Comore was established from the Apostolic Vicariate of Madagascar. In 1843 the French Government, called in by the sultan, had taken possession of Mayotte, which became, with Nossi-Bé, a post of surveillance over Madagascar. These islands later formed a French colony, with a population largely Muslim. Mayotte, Nossi-Bé, and the Comoros were made an Apostolic prefecture and confided to the Fathers of the Holy Ghost. In 1898, when the same missionaries were given the ecclesiastical administration of Northern Madagascar, these smaller islands and Santa Maria were attached to the Apostolic Vicariate at Diego Suarez. Santa Maria and Nossi-Bé had resident missionaries.[2]
- 1933: construction of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph
- June 14, 1938: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Ambanja
- March 8, 1951: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Ambanja
- September 14, 1955: Promoted as Diocese of Ambanja
Leadership
- Bishops of Ambanja(Roman rite)
- Bishop Rosario Saro Vella, S.D.B. (since 2007.11.07)
- Archbishop Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona (Apostolic Administrator 2005.12.07 – 2007.11.07)
- Archbishop Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona (1998.11.28 – 2005.12.07)
- Bishop Ferdinand Botsy, O.F.M. Cap. (1976.07.08 – 1997.10.25)
- Bishop Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. (1955.09.14 – 1975.06.05)
- Vicars Apostolic of Ambanja (Roman rite)
- Bishop Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. (1951.03.08 – 1955.09.14)
- Prefects Apostolic of Ambanja (Roman rite)
- Bishop Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. (1937.11.12 – 1951.03.08)
- Prefects Apostolic of Isole di Mayotta, Nossi-Bé e Comore (Roman rite)
- Fr. Callisto Lopinot, O.F.M. Cap. (1932.05.15 – 1937)
See also
References
- ↑ (French) Monographie de la Région Diana (pages 37/38)
- ↑ http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Mayotte,_Nossi-B%C3%A9,_and_Comoro
Source
Coordinates: 13°40′43″S 48°27′08″E / 13.67861°S 48.45222°E