The Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction for some of the South Sea (Pacific) islands from 1833 till 1848.
In 1842, Propaganda Fide created the Apostolic Vicariate 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 Island, 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 Island 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.
Freedom of worship was theoretically recognised everywhere except in Niue, 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.
Statisticsedit
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, two colleges and a seminary. There were annual retreats for the priests, for the sisters and for the catechists, besides general retreats for the faithful about every two years.
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.
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.
Martyredit
The vicariate has given to the Church the proto-martyr of Oceania, Saint Peter Chanel.
Apostolic Vicarsedit
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. Bishop Etienne Jerome Rouchouze
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.
Sources and external linksedit
Catholic Hierarchy
GCatholic.org
January 01, 1970
apostolic, vicariate, eastern, oceania, vicariate, apostolic, eastern, oceania, roman, catholic, missionary, jurisdiction, some, south, pacific, islands, from, 1833, till, 1848, contents, history, statistics, martyr, apostolic, vicars, also, sources, sources, . The Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction for some of the South Sea Pacific islands from 1833 till 1848 Contents 1 History 1 1 Statistics 1 2 Martyr 2 Apostolic Vicars 3 See also 4 Sources 5 Sources and external linksHistory editThe whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the Roman Congregation Propaganda Fide to the Congregation 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 Bishop Pompallier being appointed Apostolic Vicar of Western Oceania In 1842 Propaganda Fide created the Apostolic Vicariate 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 Island 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 Island 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 Freedom of worship was theoretically recognised everywhere except in Niue 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 Statistics edit 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 two colleges and a seminary There were annual retreats for the priests for the sisters and for the catechists besides general retreats for the faithful about every two years 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 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 Martyr edit The vicariate has given to the Church the proto martyr of Oceania Saint Peter Chanel Apostolic Vicars editBishop 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 Bishop Etienne Jerome RouchouzeSee also editApostolic Prefecture of the Sandwich Islands Apostolic Vicariate of the Hawaiian Islands List of Roman Catholic dioceses in the PacificSources editThis article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 Sources and external links editCatholic Hierarchy GCatholic org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Oceania amp oldid 1210070447, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
