Diocese of Ambanja

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Isole di Mayotta, Nossi-Bé e Comore
  • Latin Name: Insularum Mayottae, Nossibeae, et Gomorae
  • Erected: 4 September 1848
  • Country: Madagascar

• Prefecture Apostolic of Ambanja
  • Latin Name: Ambaniaënsis
  • Name Changed: 14 June 1938
  • Country: Madagascar

• Vicariate Apostolic of Ambanja
  • Latin Name: Ambaniaënsis
  • Elevated: 8 March 1951
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Madagascar

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Joseph (François) Webber, S.J. † (28 Sep 1848 Appointed - 22 Dec 1850 Resigned)
• Marc Finaz, S.J. † (22 Dec 1850 Appointed - 1865 Resigned)
• Spérat Lacomme † ( 1865 Appointed - Mar 1879 Resigned)
• Victor-Marie Guilloux, C.S.Sp. † (Mar 1879 Appointed - 20 Nov 1882 Died)
• Julien-Alexandre Mauger, C.S.Sp. † (11 Jan 1883 Appointed - 1886 Resigned)
• René-Jean-François Guilmin, C.S.Sp. † (20 Jun 1886 Appointed - 27 Jun 1891 Died)
• Michel Houdé † ( 1892 Appointed - )
• Louis-Philippe Walter, C.S.Sp. † (22 May 1892 Appointed - 10 Jan 1900 Resigned)
• François-Xavier Corbet (Corbey), C.S.Sp. † (29 May 1901 Appointed - 26 Jul 1914 Died)
• Auguste-Julien-Pierre Fortineau, C.S.Sp. † (25 Jul 1914 Appointed - 15 May 1932 Resigned)
• Calliste (Paul) Lopinot, O.F.M. Cap. † (15 May 1932 Appointed - 1937 Resigned)
• Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. † (12 Nov 1937 Appointed - 5 Jun 1975 Retired)
• Ferdinand Botsy, O.F.M. Cap. (8 Jul 1976 Appointed - 25 Oct 1997 Resigned)
• Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona (28 Nov 1998 Appointed - 7 Dec 2005 Appointed, Archbishop of Antananarivo)
• Rosario Saro Vella, S.D.B. (7 Nov 2007 Appointed - 8 Jul 2019 Appointed, Bishop of Moramanga)
• Donatien Francis Randriamalala, M.S. (11 Nov 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Prefecture Apostolic of Ambanja
1950	9,138	365,592	2.5%		23	23	397					ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Ambanja
Diocese of Ambanja
1959	14,148	405,688	3.5%	1	31	32	442					ap1960
1970	21,152	562,369	3.8%	2	38	40	528		55	63	1	ap1971
1980	26,094	469,000	5.6%	5	26	31	841		42	74	1	ap1981
1990	38,024	582,000	6.5%	4	21	25	1,520		32	72	20	ap1991
1997	60,157	673,000	8.9%	27	23	50	1,203		56	95	12	ap2000
2000	65,000	790,000	8.2%	31	19	50	1,300		53	69	12	ap2001
2001	67,815	825,000	8.2%	29	23	52	1,304		38	71	12	ap2002
2002	74,596	907,500	8.2%	29	25	54	1,381		37	83	12	ap2003
2003	82,056	998,250	8.2%	36	24	60	1,367		36	86	12	ap2004
2004	90,262	1,098,075	8.2%	34	22	56	1,611		45	151	12	ap2005
2006	109,217	1,241,000	8.8%	31	19	50	2,184		38	166	12	ap2007
2012	142,112	1,471,000	9.7%	34	43	77	1,845		62	157	13	ap2013
2015	150,100	1,990,000	7.5%	29	33	62	2,420		47	159	14	ap2016
2018	153,160	2,330,000	6.6%	26	34	60	2,552		49	169	17	ap2019
2020	166,950	2,437,750	6.8%	33	46	79	2,113		58	191	20	ap2021
2022	181,091	2,587,014	7.0%	31	49	80	2,263		60	132	20	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Ferdinand Botsy, O.F.M. Cap. (Bishop: 8 Jul 1976 to 25 Oct 1997)
• Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson, C.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 13 Sep 2019 to 15 Jan 2023)
• Donatien Francis Randriamalala, M.S. (Bishop: 11 Nov 2022 - )
• Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona (Bishop: 28 Nov 1998 to 7 Dec 2005)
• Rosario Saro Vella, S.D.B. (Bishop: 7 Nov 2007 to 8 Jul 2019)

  ---

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• François-Xavier Corbet (Corbey), C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 29 May 1901 to 26 Jul 1914)
• Marc Finaz, S.J. † (Prefect: 22 Dec 1850 to 1865)
• Auguste-Julien-Pierre Fortineau, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 25 Jul 1914 to 15 May 1932)
• Victor-Marie Guilloux, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: Mar 1879 to 20 Nov 1882)
• René-Jean-François Guilmin, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 20 Jun 1886 to 27 Jun 1891)
• Michel Houdé † (Prefect: 1892)
• Spérat Lacomme † (Prefect: 1865 to Mar 1879)
• Calliste (Paul) Lopinot, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 15 May 1932 to 1937)
• Julien-Alexandre Mauger, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 11 Jan 1883 to 1886)
• Léon-Adolphe Messmer, O.F.M. Cap. † (Prefect: 12 Nov 1937; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Mar 1951; Bishop: 14 Sep 1955 to 5 Jun 1975)
• Louis-Philippe Walter, C.S.Sp. † (Prefect: 22 May 1892 to 10 Jan 1900)
• Joseph (François) Webber, S.J. † (Prefect: 28 Sep 1848 to 22 Dec 1850)

Source(s)

Home | Countries | Religious Men Women | Popes | Holy See | Roman Curia | Cardinals by Rank Bishops: All | Living | Deceased | Youngest | Oldest | Cardinal Electors Dioceses: All | Current Only | Titular | Vacant | Structured View Events: Overview | Recent | by Date | by Year | Necrology Ad Limina | Conclaves | Consistories | Councils Eastern Catholic Churches
About Catholic-Hierarchy		Terminology/Site Help
		Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2024 Code: web_d, v3.4.8, 30 Jun 2024; Data: 30 Aug 2024

✠