The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fianaranintsoa is one of the five

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Metropolitan Latin

Archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...

s in

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

, yet depends on the missionary

Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP; ) was a congregation of the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church in Rome, responsible for missionary work and related activities. It is also known by its former title, the Sacred Congrega ...

. Its

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

archiepiscopal see is Cathédrale du Saint-Nom de Jésus, dedicated to the

Name of Jesus Two names and a variety of titles are used to refer to Jesus in the New Testament. In Christianity, the two names Jesus and Emmanuel that refer to Jesus in the New Testament have salvific attributes.''Bible explorer's guide'' by John Phillips 2 ...

, in

Fianarantsoa Fianarantsoa is a city (commune urbaine) in south central Madagascar, and is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region. History It was built in the early 19th century by the Merina as the administrative capital for the newly conquered Betsileo kin ...

Fianarantsoa province Fianarantsoa Province is a former province of Madagascar. It has an area of 103,272 km2 and population of 3,366,291 (July 2001 estimate). Its capital was Fianarantsoa. The province along with the 5 other was abolished in 2007 in favour of cre ...

. The present Archbishop is

Fulgence Rabemahafaly Archbishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly (born 23 May 1951 in Miarinavaratra) is the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. He was ordained as a priest on 14 August 1980 in Fianarantsoa. He was previously the Bishop of ...

Ecclesiastical province

Its

suffragan A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Catholic Church, a suffragan bishop leads a diocese within an ecclesiastical province other than the principal diocese, the metropolitan archdiocese; the diocese led ...

sees are : *

Diocese of Ambositra The Diocese of Ambositra is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Ambositra and was erected on 3 June 1999. It performs the Latin Rite. The Diocese covers approximately . As of 20 ...

, a daughter see * Diocese of Farafangana *

Diocese of Ihosy The Diocese of Ihosy is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Ihosy and was erected on 13 April 1967. It performs the Latin Church, Latin Rite. The Diocese covers approximately 40,9 ...

Diocese of Mananjary The Diocese of Mananjary is a Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa in Madagascar. It is based in the town of Mananjary and was erected on 9 April 1968. It performs the Latin Rite. The Diocese covers approximately 14,270 ...

, a daughter

History

* Established on 1913.05.10 as

Apostolic Vicariate An apostolic vicariate is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church under a titular bishop centered in missionary regions and countries where dioceses or parishes have not yet been established. The status of apostolic vicariate is often ...

of Fianarantsoa, on vast territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar. * Lost territories on 1935.06.18 to establish

Apostolic Prefecture of Vatomandry The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toamasina () is one of five Latin Metropolitan archdioceses on Madagascar, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is the Cathédrale ...

(now Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toamasina) and on 1938.01.08 to establish

Apostolic Prefecture of Morondava The Roman Catholic Diocese of Morondava () is a suffragan Latin diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Toliara (one of five in Madagascar), yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Its cathedral episc ...

(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

s : on 1968.04.09

and on 1999.06.03

* Enjoyed a Papal visit from

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

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.http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/fian0.htm GCatholic 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 Latin Rite may refer to: *The Latin Church, a ''sui iuris'' church of the Catholic Church *The Latin liturgical rites, a family of Christian rites and uses which includes the Roman Rite *The Roman Rite The Roman Rite () is the most common ritua ...

; initially European missionary members of Latin orders) ;''Apostolic Vicars of Fianarantsoa'' * Charles Givelet,

Jesuit Order The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 by ...

(S.J.) (born France) (1913.05.16 – death 1935.12.09),

Titular Bishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

of 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 Tebourba ( ') is a town in Tunisia, located about 20 miles (30 km) from the capital Tunis, former ancient city ( Thuburbo Minus) and bishopric, now a Latin Catholic titular see. Thuburbo Minus Historically Thuburbo Minus ("Little Thuburbo ...

(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

Titular Archbishop A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese. By definition, a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop, the tradition of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox an ...

Odessus Varna (, ) is the List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, third-largest city in Bulgaria and the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and in the Northern Bulgaria region. Situated strategically in the Gulf of Varna, t ...

(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

Acmonia Acmonia or Akmonia () is an ancient city of Phrygia Pacatiana, in Asia Minor, now known as Ahat Köyü in the district of Banaz, Uşak Province. It is mentioned by Cicero and was a point on the road between Dorylaeum and Philadelphia. Under ...

(1960.01.12 – 1962.04.02) and

Auxiliary Bishop An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the diocese. Auxiliary bishops can also be titular bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions. ...

of Fianarantsoa (1960.01.12 – 1962.04.02) * Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (1992.12.17 – retired 2002.10.01); previously

Coadjutor Bishop A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) ("co-assister" in Latin) is a bishop in the Latin Catholic, Anglican and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in administering the diocese. The coa ...

Antsirabe Antsirabe () also known as Ville d'eau is the list of cities in Madagascar, third largest city in Madagascar and the capital of the Vakinankaratra region, with a population of 265,018 in 2014. In Madagascar, Antsirabe is known for its relatively ...

(Madagascar) (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19), succeeded as Bishop of Antsirabe (1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17) *

(2002.10.01 – ...), also

Apostolic Administrator An apostolic administration in the Catholic Church is administrated by a prelate appointed by the pope to serve as the ordinary for a specific area. Either the area is not yet a diocese (a stable 'pre-diocesan', usually missionary apostolic admi ...

of suffragan

Ambositra Ambositra is a city (commune urbaine) in central Madagascar. Ambositra is the capital of the Amoron'i Mania region, and of Ambositra District. Geography It is situated at the RN 7 (Antsirabe - Tulear) and the RN 41 to Fandriana. It is situa ...

(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

, appointed Bishop of Ambositra in 1999; later returned here as Archbishop * Vincent Rakotozafy, appointed Bishop of Tôlagnaro in 2001 *

Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona (born 24 May 1946, in Fianarantsoa) is a Catholic Church in Madagascar, Madagascan Catholic prelate who served as Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antananarivo, Archbishop of Antananarivo from 2005 to 2023. Razanak ...

, appointed Bishop of Ambanja in 1998

Sources and external links

GCatholic with Google satellite photo - data for all sections

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fianarantsoa, Roman Catholic Archdiocese Fianarantsoa Roman Catholic dioceses in Madagascar 1913 establishments in Madagascar A