Mission sui iuris of Funafuti explained

The Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti (Latin: Missio Sui Iuris Funafutinum) is a Catholic Latin mission sui juris (pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction) in Tuvalu, Polynesia.

It depends on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, yet it is exceptionally not exempt, but instead is a suffragan of a Metropolitan archdiocese. Since 21 March 2003, that metropolitan see has been the Archdiocese of Suva; until that date, it had been a different see, i.e., the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia.

Its only place of worship is Teone Church in Vaiaku, on Fongafale island in Tuvalu.

On June 3, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Mission Society of the Philippines' Fr. Eliseo Napiere, as superior of MSIF. He succeeded Reynaldo B. Getalado, M. S. P., appointed in 2014, who was installed Coadjutor bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga on April 27.^[1]

History

Ellice Islands with very few Catholics were united to Gilbert Islands as a protectorate and then British colony Gilbert and Ellice Islands from 1916. The vicariate apostolic of the Gilbert Islands became the Diocese of Tarawa in 1966.The Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti was split on 10 September 1982 into the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru and the Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti.

In 2020, estimates suggested that there were 95-100 Catholics in Tuvalu, with one priest.^{[2] [3]}

Ordinaries

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Funafuti

• Pio Taofinu'u, Marists (S. M.) (1982.09.10 – 1985.09), while Apostolic Administrator of Samoa–Pago-Pago bishopric (American Samoa) (1982.09.10 – 1986.06) and Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia and Tokelau (Samoa) (1982.09.10 – 1992.06.26); previously Bishop of Apia (Samoa) (1968.01.11 – 1974.08.10), created Cardinal-Priest of S. Onofrio (1973.03.05 – 2006.01.19), Bishop of Samoa and Tokelau (Samoa) (1974.08.10 – 1982.09.10); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Samoa–Apia (Samoa) (1992.06.26 – retired 2002.11.16)
• John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S. M. (1985.08.07 - resigned 1986.07.14)
• Camille DesRosiers, S. M. (1986.07.14 – retired 2010.09.24), no other mandate
• John Ikataere Rarikin, Sacred Heart Missionaries (M. S. C.) (24 September 2010 - death 8 February 2014), no other mandate
• Reynaldo B. Getalado, Mission Society of the Philippines (M. S. P.) (24 February 2014 - 1 June 2024),^[4] no other mandate
• Fr. Eliseo Napiere, Mission Society of the Philippines (M. S. P.) (2 June 2024 - present)^[5]

See also

• Religion in Tuvalu

Sources and external links

• GCatholic, with incumbent bio links
• Web site: Mission "Sui Iuris" of Funafuti. Catholic-Hierarchy. 2014-02-24.
• Father Eliseo Napiere, M.S.P.

Notes and References

1. News: Vatican taps Filipino priest to lead papal mission to Pacific nation of Tuvalu. June 4, 2024 . Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. June 4, 2024.
2. https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=229c&u=23r The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28
3. https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/Tuvalu Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
4. https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgetala.html Catholic Hierarchy website, retrieved 2023-08-08
5. News: Resignations and Appointments, 03.06.2024. June 4, 2024 . Holy See Press Office. June 3, 2024.