Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga (Latin: Dioecesis Rarotongana) in the Cook Islands is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva in neighbouring Fiji. It was erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Mnihiki in 1922, elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands in 1948 and elevated as the Diocese of Rarotonga in 1966.
Diocese of Rarotonga Dioecesis Rarotongana | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country | Cook Islands, Niue |
| Metropolitan | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 234 km2 (90 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2017) 11,885 2,255 (19.0%) |
| Parishes | 15 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 21 June 1966 |
| Cathedral | Saint Joseph's Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Saint Joseph |
| Secular priests | 9 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Paul Donoghue, S.M. |
| Bishops emeritus | Robin Walsh Leamy, S.M. |
Bishops
- Bernardin Castanié, C.I.M. (1923–1939)
- John David Hubaldus Lehman, C.I.M. (1939–1959)
- Hendrick Joseph Cornelius Maria de Cocq, SS.CC. (1964–1971)
- John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S. M. (1973–1977)
- Denis George Browne (1977–1983)
- Robin Walsh Leamy, S. M. (1984–1996)
- Stuart France O'Connell, S. M. (1996–2011)
- Paul Donoghue, S.M. (2011– )
Education
Primary Schools
Saint Josephs School, Rarotonga
Saint Mary's School, Mauke Island (now closed down)
Secondary (High) School
Nukutere College, Rarotonga
Churches
Catholic Cathedral of Rarotonga (and the Cook Islands)
Saint Joseph's Cathedral is the only Catholic Cathedral in the Cook Islands. The Cathedral is located in Avarua.
Three Catholic churches in Rarotonga also serve the local faithful: St Mary's in Arorangi Village, St Paul's in Titikaveka Village and Sacred Heart in Matavera village.
External links and references
- "Diocese of Rarotonga". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2007-01-12.