In 1842, the Propaganda Fide created an Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania, including New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji Islands. On 23 July 1847, it lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of New Caledonia, on 20 August 1850 again to the newly established Apostolic Vicariate of Archipelago of the Navigators and 27 March 1863 to the newly established Apostolic Prefecture of Fiji Island. After these subdivisions, the vicariate included only the Tonga, the Wallis Islands, Futuna and Niue. The Tonga Islands extend from 15° to 22° S. lat. and from 173° to 176° W. long. Niue is three hundred miles to the east. The Wallis Islands lie in 13° S. lat. and 178° W. long.; Futuna, in 40° 14' S. lat. and 179° 33' W. long. These archipelagos were divided among several more or less constitutional monarchies; the Kingdoms of Tonga, Niue, Wallis and the two Kingdoms of Futuna. Tonga and Niue were under British protectorate, Wallis and Futuna, under French.
By the early 20th century, freedom of worship was theoretically recognized everywhere except in Niue, which was 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 was 34,000, with 9200 Catholics.
In the early 20th century, there were 35 Catholic churches; 21 European and 1 native Marist priests, and 3 native secular 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 native lay teachers; the colleges and the seminary by priests. The islands were divided into districts, with resident missionaries assembling 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. The vicariate has given to the Church the proto-martyr of Oceania, Blessed P. Chanel.
Legacyedit
After having lost more territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Wallis and Futuna on 1935.11.11, by now being reduced to a tiny part of its original expanse, it was on 13 April renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands, on 22 March 1957 again renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands and Niue, which would on 21 June 1966 be promoted as Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga, yet remains exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See.
List of incumbent ordinariesedit
All were titular bishops and members of the same missionary congregation, the Marists (S.M.)
Joseph Felix Blanc [fr], S.M. (1912.02.17 – 1937.04.13), who went on as first Apostolic Vicar of Tonga Islands (1937.04.13 – 1952)
Sources and external linksedit
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. [1]
GigaCatholic with incumbent ordinaries list and biography links
May 07, 2024
apostolic, vicariate, central, oceania, vicariate, apostolic, central, oceania, roman, catholic, missionary, jurisdiction, southern, pacific, contents, history, legacy, list, incumbent, ordinaries, sources, external, linkshistory, editthe, whole, oceania, firs. The Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction in the Southern Pacific Contents 1 History 2 Legacy 3 List of incumbent ordinaries 4 Sources and external linksHistory editThe whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the Roman Congregation for the missions 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 an Apostolic vicariate and given to the Society of Mary 1836 Jean Baptiste Pompallier being appointed first ordinary of the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Oceania In 1842 the Propaganda Fide created an Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania including New Caledonia Tonga Samoa and Fiji Islands On 23 July 1847 it lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of New Caledonia on 20 August 1850 again to the newly established Apostolic Vicariate of Archipelago of the Navigators and 27 March 1863 to the newly established Apostolic Prefecture of Fiji Island After these subdivisions the vicariate included only the Tonga the Wallis Islands Futuna and Niue The Tonga Islands extend from 15 to 22 S lat and from 173 to 176 W long Niue is three hundred miles to the east The Wallis Islands lie in 13 S lat and 178 W long Futuna in 40 14 S lat and 179 33 W long These archipelagos were divided among several more or less constitutional monarchies the Kingdoms of Tonga Niue Wallis and the two Kingdoms of Futuna Tonga and Niue were under British protectorate Wallis and Futuna under French By the early 20th century freedom of worship was theoretically recognized everywhere except in Niue which was 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 was 34 000 with 9200 Catholics In the early 20th century there were 35 Catholic churches 21 European and 1 native Marist priests and 3 native secular 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 native lay teachers the colleges and the seminary by priests The islands were divided into districts with resident missionaries assembling 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 The vicariate has given to the Church the proto martyr of Oceania Blessed P Chanel Legacy editAfter having lost more territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Wallis and Futuna on 1935 11 11 by now being reduced to a tiny part of its original expanse it was on 13 April renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands on 22 March 1957 again renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands and Niue which would on 21 June 1966 be promoted as Roman Catholic Diocese of Tonga yet remains exempt i e directly subject to the Holy See List of incumbent ordinaries editAll were titular bishops and members of the same missionary congregation the Marists S M Vicars Apostolic of Central Oceania Pierre Bataillon S M 1842 11 22 1863 Aloys Elloy S M 1872 1878 11 22 Jean Amand Lamaze S M 1879 05 09 1906 09 09 Armand Olier S M 1906 09 09 1911 09 17 Joseph Felix Blanc fr S M 1912 02 17 1937 04 13 who went on as first Apostolic Vicar of Tonga Islands 1937 04 13 1952 Sources and external links edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company 1 GigaCatholic with incumbent ordinaries list and biography links Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apostolic Vicariate of Central Oceania amp oldid 1196176835, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
