Roman Catholic Diocese of Ambanja

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
Current leadership
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.

Contents

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.[1]

  • 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

Notes

  1. ^ http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Mayotte,_Nossi-B%C3%A9,_and_Comoro

Source