Vicariate Apostolic of Oriental Oceania
Encyclopedia
The Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Oceania was a Roman Catholic missionary jurisdiction for some of the South Pacific islands.
(1836), Bishop Pompallier
being appointed Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania.
In 1842, Propaganda created the Vicariate Apostolic 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 Islands, Futuna and Niué
. The Tonga Islands extend from 15° to 22° S. lat. and from 173° to 176° W. long. Niué 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, Niué, Wallis and the two Kingdoms of Futuna. Tonga and Niué were under British protectorate
, Wallis and Futuna, under French.
Freedom of worship was theoretically recognized everywhere except in Niué, 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
.
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; 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 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
. 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.
Bishop Etienne Jerome Rouchouze
History
The whole of Oceania had at first been entrusted by the 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 a vicariate Apostolic and given to the Society of MarySociety of Mary (Marists)
The Society of Mary , is a Roman Catholic religious congregation or order, founded by Father Jean-Claude Colin and a group of other seminarians in France in 1816...
(1836), Bishop Pompallier
Jean Baptiste Pompallier
Jean Baptiste François Pompallier was the first vicar apostolic to visit New Zealand. He was born in Lyon, France. He became the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland.-Appointment and voyage:...
being appointed Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania.
In 1842, Propaganda created the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Oceania, comprising the colonial island states of New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
, Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
and Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
Islands. By a further subdivision, the vicariate included only the Tonga Islands, the Wallis Islands, Futuna and Niué
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
. The Tonga Islands extend from 15° to 22° S. lat. and from 173° to 176° W. long. Niué 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, Niué, Wallis and the two Kingdoms of Futuna. Tonga and Niué were under British protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
, Wallis and Futuna, under French.
Freedom of worship was theoretically recognized everywhere except in Niué, 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
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
.
The total population in the early 20th century was 34,000, with 9200 Catholics. There were 35 churches; 21 European and 1 local Marist
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
priests, and 3 local diocesan 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 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
Ecclesiastical conference
An Ecclesiastical conference is a meetings of Roman Catholic clerics for the purpose of discussing, in general, matters pertaining to their state of life in particular, questions of moral theology and liturgy....
. 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.
Vicars apostolic
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
Etienne Jerome Rouchouze
Etienne Jerome Rouchouze, SS.CC. of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary served as Vicar Apostolic and Titular Bishop of Nilopolis from 1833 to 1843 of the Vicariate Apostolic of Oriental Oceania, from which were derived the Archdiocese of Pape‘ete, the Roman Catholic Diocese of...
Martyr
The vicariate has given to the Church the proto-martyr of Oceania, Saint Peter Chanel.See also
- Prefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich IslandsPrefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich IslandsThe Prefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands or the Sandwich Isles Mission , was an ecclesiastical territory of the Roman Catholic Church created by Pope Leo XII on November 27, 1825 encompassing the Sandwich Islands and entrusted to the care of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus...
- Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian IslandsVicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian IslandsThe Vicar Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands was the prelate having ordinary jurisdiction of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands. The Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands was created by the Holy See in 1847 as the Vicariate Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands...
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses in the Pacific