Vicariate Apostolic of Oriental Oceania

Vicariate Apostolic of Oriental Oceania

The Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction for some of the South Pacific islands.

History

The whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the Propaganda Fide to the Society of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1825); but the territory proving too large, the western portion was afterwards formed into a vicariate Apostolic and given to the Society of Mary (1836), Bishop Pompallier being appointed Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania. In 1842, Propaganda created the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania, comprising the colonial island states of New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji Islands. By a further subdivision, the vicariate included only the Tonga Islands, the Wallis Islands, Futuna and Niué. The Tonga Islands extend from 15º to 22º S. lat. and from 173º to 176º W. long. Niué is three hundred miles to the east. The Wallis Islands lie in 13º S. lat. and 178º W. long.; Futuna, in 40º 14' S. lat. and 179º 33' W. long. These archipelagos were divided among several more or less constitutional monarchies; the Kingdoms of Tonga, Niué, Wallis and the two Kingdoms of Futuna. Tonga and Niué were under British protectorate, Wallis and Futuna, under French. Freedom of worship was theoretically recognized everywhere except in Niué, which is exclusively Protestant. Wallis and Futuna were entirely Catholic. In Tonga there were Catholics, Methodists belonging to the Sydney conference, independent Methodists forming a national Church, some Anglicans, Adventists and Mormons. The total population in the early 20th century was 34,000, with 9200 Catholics. There were 35 churches; 21 European and 1 local Marist priests, and 3 local diocesan priests; 28 schools with 2039 children; 2 colleges; 1 seminary. The establishments for girls were under the care of 52 Sisters of the Third Order of Mary. The boys' schools were conducted by local lay teachers; the colleges and the seminary by priests. The islands were divided into districts, with resident missionaries who assembled every month for an ecclesiastical conference. There were annual retreats for the priests, for the sisters and for the catechists, besides general retreats for the faithful about every two years. In each village there was a sodality of men ("Kan Apositolo") and another of women ("Fakafeao"). The yearly number of baptisms averaged 310; of marriages, 105. Bishop Bataillon was the first vicar Apostolic, succeeded by Bishop Lamaze, after whose death (1906) succeeded (1910) his coadjutor, Bishop Amand Olier, S.M., as vicar Apostolic. The vicariate has given to the Church the proto-martyr of Oceania, Saint Peter Chanel.

See also: List of Roman Catholic dioceses in the Pacific

ource

*Catholic [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11200b.htm]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Prefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands — The Prefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands or the Sandwich Isles Mission , was an ecclesiastical territory of the Roman Catholic Church created by Pope Leo XII on November 27, 1825 encompassing the Sandwich Islands (now the State of… …   Wikipedia

  • Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands — The Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands was the prelate having ordinary jurisdiction of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands . The Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands was created by the Holy See in 1847 as the Vicariate… …   Wikipedia

  • Apostolic prefect — See also: Catholic Church hierarchy#Equivalents of diocesan bishops in law An apostolic prefect (or prefect apostolic) is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a missionary area where the Catholic Church is not yet… …   Wikipedia

  • Prefect Apostolic — • A type of ecclesiastical jurisdiction Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Prefect Apostolic     Prefect Apostolic     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu — Diocese of Honolulu Dioecesis Honoluluensis Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu Location …   Wikipedia

  • Roman Catholic Bishop of Honolulu — Depicted next to Pope Pius XI and below Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, is Bishop Stephen Alencastre who was the fifth Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Honolulu is the residential bishop of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Etienne Jerome Rouchouze — Etienne Jerome Rouchouze, SS.CC. of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary served as Vicar Apostolic and Titular Bishop of Nilopolis from 1833 to 1843 of the Vicariate Apostolic of Oriental Oceania, from which were derived the… …   Wikipedia

  • Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hawi — Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Hawi, North Kohala, is an historic parish in the West Hawai‘i Vicariate of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. The parish campus is located at 55 3374 Akoni Pule Highway in the town of Hawi, adjacent to …   Wikipedia

  • Wallis and Futuna — Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands Territoire des îles Wallis et Futuna/ Telituale o Uvea mo Futuna …   Wikipedia

  • Alexis Bachelot — Reverend Alexis John Augustine Bachelot, SS.CC., P.A., (February 22, 1796 December 5, 1837) was a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a Roman Catholic priest and the Prefect Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”