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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Roman Catholic Archdiocese Of Fianarantsoa

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Fianaranintsoa is one of the five Catholic Metropolitan Latin Archdioceses in Madagascar, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is Cathédrale du Saint-Nom de Jésus, dedicated to the Name of Jesus, in Fianarantsoa, Fianarantsoa province.

The present Archbishop is Fulgence Rabemahafaly.

Ecclesiastical province

Its suffragan sees are :

History

Statistics

As per 2014, it pastorally served 831,106 Catholics (56.5% of 1,471,000 total) on 29,400 km in 42 parishes and 5 missions with 126 priests (60 diocesan, 66 religious), 525 lay religious (210 brothers, 315 sisters) and 78 seminarians.

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; initially European missionary members of Latin orders)

Apostolic Vicars of Fianarantsoa
  • Charles Givelet, Jesuit Order (S.J.) (born France) (1913.05.16 – death 1935.12.09), Titular Bishop 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 (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 of Odessus (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 (1960.01.12 – 1962.04.02) and Auxiliary Bishop of Fianarantsoa (1960.01.12 – 1962.04.02)
  • Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (1992.12.17 – retired 2002.10.01); previously Coadjutor Bishop of Antsirabe (Madagascar) (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19), succeeded as Bishop of Antsirabe (1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17)
  • Fulgence Rabemahafaly (2002.10.01 – ...), also Apostolic Administrator of suffragan Ambositra (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

Other priests of this diocese who became bishops

See also

21°27′30″S 47°05′00″E / 21.4583°S 47.0833°E / -21.4583; 47.0833

References