Suva (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Peter Loy Chong, Archbishop

Suffragan Dioceses

Funafuti (Mission "Sui Iuris")
Rarotonga
Tarawa and Nauru

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 21 June 1966
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Fiji
Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Square Kilometers: 18,274 (7,058 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.aosfiji.org/
Mailing Address: Archdiocesan Office, Nicolas House, 35 Pratt St., P.O. Box 109, Suva, Fiji
Telephone: 330.19.55
Fax: 330.03.95

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Fiji Island
- Latin Name: Insularum Fidgis
- Erected: 27 March 1863
- Country: Fiji
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji Island
- Latin Name: Insularum Fidgis
- Elevated: 10 May 1887
- Vicariate
- Country: Fiji
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Jean-Baptiste Breheret, S.M. † ( 1863 Appointed - 1887 Resigned)
Julien Vidal, S.M. † (13 May 1887 Appointed - 2 Apr 1922 Died)
Charles-Joseph Nicolas, S.M. † (2 Apr 1922 Succeeded - 15 Aug 1941 Died)
Victor Frederick Foley, S.M. † (11 May 1944 Appointed - 1 Jan 1967 Resigned)
George Hamilton Pearce, S.M. † (22 Jun 1967 Appointed - 10 Apr 1976 Resigned)
Petero Mataca † (10 Apr 1976 Appointed - 19 Dec 2012 Retired)
Peter Loy Chong (19 Dec 2012 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Fiji Island
27 March 1863	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania	Prefecture Apostolic of Fiji Island (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji Island
10 May 1887	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Fiji Island	Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji Island
Archdiocese of Suva
21 June 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji Island	Archdiocese of Suva

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Suva

1970 46,672 526,765 8.9% 10 72 82 569 119 250 35 ap1971

1980 52,644 624,062 8.4% 21 60 81 649 106 244 33 ap1981

1990 67,325 727,104 9.3% 18 90 108 623 152 192 33 ap1991

1999 84,236 841,142 10.0% 23 82 105 802 139 182 34 ap2000

2000 86,141 849,637 10.1% 28 92 120 717 171 155 34 ap2001

2001 82,695 815,714 10.1% 29 97 126 656 172 161 35 ap2002

2002 84,291 824,438 10.2% 27 99 126 668 167 143 35 ap2003

2003 85,518 890,393 9.6% 31 92 123 695 151 151 35 ap2004

2004 87,090 959,424 9.1% 33 112 145 600 180 159 35 ap2005

2010 101,050 1,297,683 7.8% 30 49 79 1,279 102 135 35 ap2011

2014 106,800 1,326,000 8.1% 34 75 109 979 139 127 34 ap2015

2017 63,762 869,458 7.3% 33 88 121 526 172 125 35 ap2018

2020 64,900 882,000 7.4% 33 88 121 536 72 125 35 ap2021

2022 66,000 893,468 7.4% 36 88 124 532 172 125 36 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Suva
1970	46,672	526,765	8.9%	10	72	82	569	119	250	35	ap1971
1980	52,644	624,062	8.4%	21	60	81	649	106	244	33	ap1981
1990	67,325	727,104	9.3%	18	90	108	623	152	192	33	ap1991
1999	84,236	841,142	10.0%	23	82	105	802	139	182	34	ap2000
2000	86,141	849,637	10.1%	28	92	120	717	171	155	34	ap2001
2001	82,695	815,714	10.1%	29	97	126	656	172	161	35	ap2002
2002	84,291	824,438	10.2%	27	99	126	668	167	143	35	ap2003
2003	85,518	890,393	9.6%	31	92	123	695	151	151	35	ap2004
2004	87,090	959,424	9.1%	33	112	145	600	180	159	35	ap2005
2010	101,050	1,297,683	7.8%	30	49	79	1,279	102	135	35	ap2011
2014	106,800	1,326,000	8.1%	34	75	109	979	139	127	34	ap2015
2017	63,762	869,458	7.3%	33	88	121	526	172	125	35	ap2018
2020	64,900	882,000	7.4%	33	88	121	536	72	125	35	ap2021
2022	66,000	893,468	7.4%	36	88	124	532	172	125	36	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Peter Loy Chong (Priest: 11 Jan 1992; Archbishop: 19 Dec 2012 - )

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Jean-Baptiste Breheret, S.M. † (Prefect: 1863 to 1887)
Victor Frederick Foley, S.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 May 1944; Archbishop: 21 Jun 1966 to 1 Jan 1967)
Petero Mataca † (Priest: 19 Dec 1959; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Aug 1974; Archbishop: 10 Apr 1976 to 19 Dec 2012)
Charles-Joseph Nicolas, S.M. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 12 Aug 1918; Vicar Apostolic: 2 Apr 1922 to 15 Aug 1941)
George Hamilton Pearce, S.M. † (Archbishop: 22 Jun 1967 to 10 Apr 1976)
Julien Vidal, S.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 May 1887 to 2 Apr 1922)