Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsirabe

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsirabe (Antsiraben(sis)) is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Antananarivo (one of five in Madagascar; in the national capital), yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Its cathedral episcopal see is the (Marian) Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, in the city of Antsirabe, Antananarivo Province.

Statistics
As per 2014, it pastorally served 892,713 Catholics (45.4% of 1,967,703 total) on 16,000 km2 in 29 parishes and 2 missions with 125 priests (64 diocesan, 61 religious), 519 lay religious (198 brothers, 321 sisters) and 74 seminarians.

History

 * Established on May 15, 1913 as Apostolic Prefecture of Betafo, on Malagassy territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar.
 * Promoted on August 24, 1918 as Apostolic Vicariate of Betafo, hence entitled to a titular bishop.
 * Renamed on January 10, 1921 as Apostolic Vicariate of Antsirabe after its new see.
 * Promoted on September 14, 1955 as Diocese of Antsirabe.

Ordinaries
(Roman Rite, mostly members of missionary Latin congregations)


 * Apostolic Prefect of Betafó
 * Father François-Joseph Dantin, Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette (M.S.) (born France) (1913.06.24 – 1918.08.24 see below)


 * Apostolic Vicars of Betafo
 * François-Joseph Dantin, M.S. (see above 1918.08.24 – 1921.01.10 see below), Titular Bishop of Satala in Armenia (1918.08.24 – death 1941.07.05)


 * Apostolic Vicars of Antsirabe
 * François-Joseph Dantin, M.S. (see above 1921.01.10 – death 1941.07.05)
 * Édouard Rostaing, M.S. (born France) (1942.02.24 – death 1946.05.18), Titular Bishop of Curium (1942.02.24 – 1946.05.18)
 * Joseph-Paul Futy, M.S. (born France) (1947.02.13 – death 1955.03), Titular Bishop of Aspendus (1947.02.13 – 1956.08.12); previously Apostolic Prefect of Morondava (Madagascar) (1938 – 1947.02.13)


 * Suffragan Bishops of Antsirabe
 * Claude Rolland, M.S. (born France) (1955.12.19 – death 1973.10.15)
 * Jean-Maria Rakotondrasoa, M.S. (first native incumbent) (1974.02.28 – retired 1989.06.19), died 2002
 * Philibert Randriambololona, Society of Jesus (S.J.) (1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17), succeeding as previous Coadjutor Bishop of Antsirabé (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19); later Metropolitan Archbishop of Fianarantsoa (Madagascar) (1992.12.17 – retired 2002.10.01), died 2018
 * Félix Ramananarivo, M.S. (1994.11.11 – retired 2009.11.13), died 2013
 * Philippe Ranaivomanana (2009.11.13 – death 2022.09.06), previously Bishop of Ihosy (Madagascar) (1999.01.02 – 2009.11.14)

Coadjutor Bishop

 * Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (1988-1989)

Other priest of this diocese who became bishop

 * Désiré Tsarahazana, appointed Bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana in 2000; future Cardinal

Sources and external links

 * GCatholic.org
 * Catholic Hierarchy