Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila explained

Jurisdiction:Diocese
Port-Vila
Latin:Dioecesis Portus Vilensis
Local:Diocèse de Port-Vila
Country: Vanuatu
Province:Nouméa
Metropolitan:Archdiocese of Nouméa
Area Km2:11,870
Population:205,000
Population As Of:2004
Catholics:29,500
Catholics Percent:14,4
Denomination:Catholic
Rite:Roman Rite
Established:9 February 1901 (As Prefecture Apostolic of New Hebrides)
22 March 1904 (As Vicariate Apostolic of New Hebrides)
21 June 1966 (As Diocese of Port-Vila)
Cathedral:Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Port-Vila
Bishop:Jean Bosco Baremes
Metro Archbishop:Michel-Marie-Bernard Calvet
Suffragan:for one -->
Archdeacon:for one-->

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila (Latin: Dioecesis Portus Vilensis; French: Diocèse de Port-Vila) in Vanuatu is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nouméa.

History

The first Catholic mission in Vanuatu was started in 1887 at Mele on Efate, by the Marist Father Le Forestier, three other Marist priests and a brother. The greatest growth of Catholic converts took place in the north, where the French influence was strong. This was especially true in Espiritu Santo and Malekula.[1]

In 1901 it was first erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of New Hebrides, with Victor Douceré as apostolic prefect.[2] In 1904 it became a Vicariate Apostolic. In 1966, it was elevated as the Diocese of Port-Vila.

Tropical Cyclone Pam, of March 2015, was the second most intense tropical cyclone of the south Pacific Ocean in terms of sustained winds and is regarded as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of Vanuatu.[3] Bishop John Bosco Baremes worked with the Diocesan Disaster Committee and Caritas to identify and address key needs such as shelter, food, clean water, and protection of the poor and vulnerable.[4]

Ordinaries

See also

External links and references

-17.7347°N 168.3219°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vanuatu . Oceania Marist Province/Province Mariste d'Océanie . 15 March 2015 .
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=oZQuAAAAYAAJ&q=W.H.+Grattan+Flood&pg=PA10 "Douceré, Right Reverend Victor Isidore-Marie S.M.", The Catholic Encyclopedia and Its Makers, New York, the Encyclopedia Press, 1917, p. 46
  3. Web site: Joshua Robertson. The Guardian. 15 March 2015. 15 March 2015. Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu awaits first wave of relief and news from worst-hit islands.
  4. http://www.wn.catholic.org.nz/vanuatu-rising-again-hope-shines-forth/ Scullion, Annette. "Vanuatu rising again: Hope shines forth", WelCom, Wellington and Palmerston North Dioceses, March 30, 2015