Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana

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.

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

Cathedral of Antsiranana

Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is Cathédrale Saint-Matthieu, dedicated to the Apostle Matthew, in Antsiranana.

History

It was established on 1896.01.16 as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Madagascar, on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Madagascar (now Metropolitan Archbishopric of Antanarivo)

On 1913.05.20 it was renamed after its see as Apostolic Vicariate of Diégo-Suarez. On 1923.03.15 it lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Vicariate of Majunga On 1955.09.14 it was promoted as Diocese of Diégo-Suarez

Promoted on 1958.12.11 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Diégo-Suarez, during the transition from French colony to independence. On 1959.05.21 it lost territory to establish the Diocese of Ambatondrazaka. It enjoyed a Papal visit by Pope John Paul II in April 1989.

Renamed on 1989.10.28 as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antsiranana. On 2000.10.30 it lost further territory to establish the Diocese of Fenoarivo Atsinanana.

Ecclesiastical province

The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Antsiranana has the following suffragan sees :

Statistics

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

(all Roman rite)

Apostolic Vicar of North Madagascar

François-Xavier Corbet Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp.), (1898.07.05 – 1913.05.20 see below), Titular Bishop of Obba (1898.07.05 – death 1914.07.25)

Apostolic Vicars of Diego Suarez

François-Xavier Corbet (C.S.Sp.), (see above 1913.05.20 – death 1914.07.25)
Auguste Julien Pierre Fortineau (C.S.Sp.), (1914.07.25 – retired 1946.04), Titular Bishop of Chytri (1914.07.17 – death 1948.02.09), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Diégo-Suarez (1914.07.17 – 1914.07.25)
Edmond-Marie-Jean Wolff (C.S.Sp.), (1958.12.11 – 1967.04.13 see below), Titular Bishop of Phatanus (1941.07.08 – 1955.09.14), previously Apostolic Vicar of Majunga (Madagascar) (1941.07.08 – 1947.02.13)

Suffragan Bishop of Diego Suarez

Edmond-Marie-Jean Wolff (C.S.Sp.), (see above 1955.09.14 – 1958.12.11 see below)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Diego Suarez

Edmond-Marie-Jean Wolff (C.S.Sp.), (1958.12.11 – retired 1967.04.13), emeritate as Titular Archbishop of Gummi in Byzacena (1967.04.13 – resigned 1971.05.24), died 1990
Albert Joseph Tsiahoana, (1967.04.13 – 1989.10.28 see below); succeeding as former Auxiliary Bishop of Diégo-Suarez (Madagascar) (1964.02.10 – 1967.04.13) and Titular Bishop of Abthugni (1964.02.10 – 1967.04.13)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Antsiranana

Albert Joseph Tsiahoana, (1989.10.28 – 1998.11.14), died 2012
Michel Malo, Association of Priests of Prado (Ist. del Prado) (1998.11.28 – retired 2013.11.27); previously Titular Bishop of Croæ (1988.09.01 – 1996.03.29), first as Auxiliary Bishop of Mahajanga (Madagascar) (1988.09.01 – 1993.10.18) and next Auxiliary Bishop of Antsiranana (1993.10.18 – 1996.03.29), next Bishop of Mahajanga (Madagascar) (1996.03.29 – 1998.11.28)
Benjamin Marc Ramaroson, (27 November 2013 - ...), previously Bishop of Farafangana (Madagascar) (2005.11.26 – 2013.11.27).

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Sources and external links

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