Diocese of Port-Vila
| Diocese of Port-Vila Dioecesis Portus Vilensis Diocèse de Port-Vila | |
|---|---|
Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila
| |
| Location | |
| Country | Vanuatu |
| Ecclesiastical province | Nouméa |
| Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Nouméa |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 11,870 km2 (4,580 sq mi) |
| Population Total Catholics |
(as of 2004) 205,000 29,500 (14,4%) |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| 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 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Jean Bosco Baremes |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Susitino Sionepoe |
The Diocese of Port-Vila (Latin: Dioecesis Portus Vilensis; French: Diocèse de Port-Vila) in Vanuatu is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Nouméa. The diocese covers the whole island of Vanuatu.
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 (Insularum Novarum Ebridarum), with Victor Douceré as apostolic prefect. On 22 March 1904 it became a Vicariate Apostolic. In 1966, it was elevated as the Diocese of Port-Vila by Pope Paul VI.[2][3]
The diocese is managed by Bishop John Bosco Baremes, and falls under the Archdiocese of Nouméa, which is led by Archbishop Susitino Sionepoe.[4]
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.[5] Bishop John Bosco Baremes worked with the Diocesan Disaster Committee and Caritas to identify and address key needs such as shelter, food, clean water, leading the response to the cyclone and ensuring the protection of the poor and vulnerable.[6]
Ordinaries
- Isidore-Marie-Victor Douceré (1901–1939)
- Jules Halbert (1939–1954)
- Louis-Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Julliard (1955–1976)
- Francis-Roland Lambert (1976–1996)
- Michel Visi (1996 – May 19, 2007)
- Jean Bosco Baremes (November 18, 2009 – present)
See also
External links and references
- Pacific News: Vanuatu Bishop Michel Visi Dies Aged 52
- "Diocese of Port-Vila". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
17°44′05″S 168°19′19″E / 17.73472°S 168.32194°E
Canonical status and jurisdiction
Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila is a diocese of the catholic church of the Catholic Church.[7]
- Part of: Ecclesiastical Province of Nouméa
External links
References
- Back to citation "Vanuatu". Oceania Marist Province/Province Mariste d'Océanie. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- Back to citation "Port-Vila (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- Back to citation "Dioecesis Portus Vilensis erecta (Portus Vilensis (antea Vicariatu Apostolico Insularum Novarum Ebridarum))" (PDF). Acta Apostolicae Sedis (in Latin). 59 (3): 201–203. 1967. ISSN 0001-6357.
- Back to citation "Nouméa". gcatholic. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
- Back to citation Joshua Robertson (15 March 2015). "Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu awaits first wave of relief and news from worst-hit islands". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- Back to citation Scullion, Annette. "Vanuatu rising again: Hope shines forth", WelCom, Wellington and Palmerston North Dioceses, March 30, 2015 Retrieved 4 July 2025
- Back to citation Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila, official website