Roman Catholic Diocese of Ambanja

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ambanja (Latin: Ambaniaën(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Ambanja in the Ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antsiranana in Madagascar. Its episcopal see is the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, which was constructed in 1933.

Diocese of Ambanja

Dioecesis Ambaniaënsis
Location
Country Madagascar
MetropolitanAntsiranana
Statistics
Area34,083 km2 (13,160 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics (including non-members)
(as of 2006)
1,241,000
109,217 (8.8%)
Information
RiteLatin Rite
CathedralSaint Joseph Cathedral[1]
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Bishopvacant

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 then Apostolic Vicariate of Diégo-Suarez. Santa Maria and Nossi-Bé had resident missionaries.[2]

Incumbent Ordinaries

all Roman Rite (Latin)
Apostolic Prefect of Mayotte, Nosy-Be and Comore
Apostolic Prefect of Ambanja
  • Fr. Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. (1937.11.12 – 1951.03.08 see below)
Apostolic Vicar of Ambanja
Suffragan Bishops of Ambanja
  • Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. (see above 1955.09.14 – 1975.06.05), later permanent Apostolic Administrator of Comores (Comoros) (1975.06.05 – 1980.05.02)
  • Ferdinand Botsy, O.F.M. Cap. (1976.07.08 – 1997.10.25)
  • Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona (1998.11.28 – 2005.12.07), later Metropolitan Archbishop of Antananarivo (Madagascar) (2005.12.07 – ...),
  • Rosario Saro Vella, Salesians (S.D.B.) (2007.11.07 - 2019.07.08), appointed Bishop of Moramanga

See also

  • Roman Catholicism in Madagascar

References

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