Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana

There is also an Anglican Bishop of Antsiranana in the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana is one of five Metropolitan Latin Archdioceses in Madagascar. Although it has its ecclesiastical province, it remains subject to the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Archdiocese of Antsiranana

Archidioecesis Antsirananensis
Location
CountryMadagascar
Ecclesiastical provinceAntsiranana
Statistics
Area37,924 km2 (14,643 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2014)
1,573,833
662,873 (42.1%)
Parishes26
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteRoman rite
Established16 January 1896
CathedralCathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Metropolitan ArchbishopBenjamin Marc Balthason RamarosonC.M.
Cathedral of Antsiranana

Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Antsiranana.

History

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It was established on 16 January 1896 as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Madagascar, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Madagascar (now Metropolitan Archbishopric of Antananarivo)

On 20 May 1913 it was renamed after its see as Apostolic Vicariate of Diégo-Suarez. On 15 March 1923 it lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Vicariate of Majunga On 14 September 1955 it was promoted as Diocese of Diégo-Suarez

Promoted on 11 December 1958 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Diégo-Suarez, during the transition from French colony to independence. On 21 May 1959 it lost territory to establish the Diocese of Ambatondrazaka. It enjoyed a Papal visit by Pope John Paul II in April 1989.

Renamed on 28 October 1989 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antsiranana. On 30 October 2000 it lost further territory to establish the Diocese of Fenoarivo Atsinanana.

Ecclesiastical province

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The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antsiranana has the following suffragan sees :

Statistics

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As per 2014, it pastorally served 662,873 Catholics (42.1% of 1,573,833 total) on 37,924 km2 in 26 parishes with 65 priests (51 diocesan, 14 religious), 194 lay religious (42 brothers, 152 sisters) and 54 seminarians.

It had a total population of about 2,211,890 in 2004. About 15.5% of the residents were Catholic. 46 Priests operated in the Archdiocese, making for a ratio of 7,464 Catholics per Priest. The Archbishop as of November 2013 is Benjamin Marc Ramaroson.

Episcopal ordinaries

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(all Roman rite)

Apostolic Vicar of North Madagascar
Apostolic vicars of Diego Suarez
Suffragan bishop of Diego Suarez
  • Edmond-Marie-Jean Wolff (C.S.Sp.), (see above 14 September 1955 – 11 December 1958 see below)
Metropolitan archbishops of Diego Suarez
  • Edmond-Marie-Jean Wolff (C.S.Sp.), (11 December 1958 – retired 13 April 1967), emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Gummi in Byzacena (13 April 1967 – resigned 24 May 1971), died 1990
  • Albert Joseph Tsiahoana, (13 April 1967 – 28 October 1989 see below); succeeding as former auxiliary bishop of Diégo-Suarez (Madagascar) (10 February 1964 – 13 April 1967) and Titular Bishop of Abthugni (10 February 1964 – 13 April 1967)
Metropolitan archbishops of Antsiranana

See also

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12°16′29″S 49°17′37″E / 12.2746°S 49.2936°E / -12.2746; 49.2936