Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands

The Apostolic Prefecture of Falkland Islands (Latin: Apostolica Præfectura de Insulis Falkland) is a Roman Catholic apostolic prefecture (missionary jurisdiction) located in the Falkland Islands and covering the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,[1][2][3] UK Southern Atlantic Ocean overseas possessions.

Prefecture Apostolic of Falkland Islands

Apostolica Praefectura de Insulis Falkland
Location
Country Falkland Islands
TerritoryFalkland Islands
Ecclesiastical provinceImmediately subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Area12,173 km2 (4,700 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2010)
3,000
300 (10.0%)
Parishes1
Information
DenominationRoman Catholic
RiteLatin Rite
Established10 January 1952
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Apostolic AdministratorHugh Allan, O.Praem.
Vicar GeneralFr. John Wisdom, O.Praem.
Website
prefecturemission.org

It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, not part of an ecclesiastical province. Its only church in the Falklands is its episcopal see, St Mary's, in the Falklands capital Stanley. (Christ Church Cathedral is not a Roman Catholic church but is the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, consecrated in 1892.)

History

The Latin missionary jurisdiction was established on 1 October 1952 as Apostolic Prefecture, splitting the offshore territory of Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands from the Diocese of Punta Arenas in Chile.

Mission Sui Iuris of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha

An exempt mission sui juris was created on 18 August 1986 for the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, comprising the Atlantic Ocean islands of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, splitting these territories from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town.

It comprises a church or chapel on each island:

From the start, the office of its ecclesiastical superior (also exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See) has been vested in the Apostolic Prefect of the Falklands, another UK Southern Atlantic overseas possession.

Incumbent ordinaries

So far, all incumbents have been members of Roman rite missionary congregations, none titular bishops

Prelates of the Falkland Islands
  • Friar James Ireland, M.H.M. (March 28, 1952 – †1973)
  • Friar Daniel Martin Spraggon, M.H.M. (May 7, 1973 – †September 27, 1985)
Prelates of the Falkland Islands and Ecclesiastical Superiors of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha

References
  1. "Press release from the Office of the Bishopric of the Forces: Former Territorial Army Chaplain to become the next Catholic Forces Bishop". Archdiocese of Southwark. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  2. "Ordination of Mgr Richard Moth as Catholic Bishop of the Forces". The Catholic Church in England and Wales. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. "THE RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS MATTHEW BURNS". Diocese of Minevia. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
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