Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands

The Apostolic Prefecture of Falkland Islands (Latin: Apostolica Præfectura de Insulis Falkland) is a Roman Catholic apostolic prefecture (missionary circoncscription) located in the Falkland Islands and covering the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, UK Southern Atlantic Ocean overseas possessions, off Argentina and Antarctica.

It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, not part of an ecclesiastical province. Its only church on the actual Falklands is its episcopal see, Christ Church Cathedral, in the Falklands capital (Port) Stanley.

History

The Latin missionary jurisdiction was established on 1 October 1952 as Apostolic Prefecture, splitting the offshore territory of Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands from the Diocese of Punta Arenas in Chile.

Mission Sui Iuris of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha

An exempt mission sui juris has been created, on 18 August 1986, for the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, comprising the Atlantic ocean islands of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, off the West African coasts, splitting these territories from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town.

It comprises a church or chapel on each dependent island :

• Church of the Sacred Heart in Jamestown, Saint Helena
• Grotto of Our Lady on Ascension
• Church of Saint Joseph on Tristan da Cunha.

From the start, the office of its ecclesiastical superior (also exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See) has been vested in the Apostolic Prefect of the Falklands, a fellow UK Southern Atlantic overseas possession.

Incumbent ordinaries

So far, all incumbents were members of Roman rite missionary congregations, none titular bishops

Prelates of the Falkland Islands

• Friar James Ireland, Mill Hill Missionaries (M.H.M.) (March 28, 1952 – †1973)
• Friar Daniel Martin Spraggon, M.H.M. (May 7, 1973 – †September 27, 1985)

Prelates of the Falkland Islands and Ecclesiastical Superiors of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha

• Mgr. Anton Agreiter, M.H.M. (October 1, 1986 – August 9, 2002; †2003)
• Mgr. Michael Bernard McPartland, Society of African Missions (S.M.A.) (August 9, 2002 – ...)

Sources, References and External links

• GigaCatholic Falkland Islands, with incumbent biography links
• GigaCatholic Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, with incumbent biographies
• Prefecture Website