Farafangana (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Marcellin Randriamamonjy, Bishop
Gaetano Di Pierro, S.C.I., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 8 April 1957
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Madagascar
Square Kilometers: 23,176 (8,951 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Eveche, B.P. 24, Farafangana 309, Madagascar
Telephone: 346.435.312

Past and Present Ordinaries

Camille-Antoine Chilouet, C.M. † (24 Dec 1957 Appointed - 25 Nov 1970 Died)
Victor Razafimahatratra, S.J. † (16 Jan 1971 Appointed - 10 Apr 1976 Appointed, Archbishop of Tananarive)
Charles-Remy Rakotonirina, S.J. † (28 Oct 1976 Appointed - 6 Aug 2005 Died)
Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson, C.M. (26 Nov 2005 Appointed - 27 Nov 2013 Appointed, Archbishop of Antsiranana)
Gaetano Di Pierro, S.C.I. (3 Mar 2018 Appointed - 31 Oct 2024 Retired)
Marcellin Randriamamonjy (31 Oct 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
8 April 1957	Erected	Diocese of Fort-Dauphin (Farafangana with Ivohibe, Vondrozo, and Karianga; Ihosy with Ranohira and Lakora; Vangaindrano with Amparihy; from the southern Midongy with Befotaka; Vohipeno; and the territories of Fort Carnot and Manakara)	Diocese of Farafangana (erected)
11 December 1958	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Farafangana (from Tananarive)
13 April 1967	Territory Lost	Diocese of Fort-Dauphin (Betroka) Diocese of Farafangana (Ihosy, Ivohibé, and Midongy-Sud)	Diocese of Ihosy (erected)
13 June 1969	Territory Added	Diocese of Ihosy (Midongy-sud)	Diocese of Farafangana

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

1970 66,291 525,000 12.6% 4 22 26 2,549 30 63 ap1971

1980 50,751 618,000 8.2% 5 21 26 1,951 27 64 19 ap1981

1990 50,656 700,000 7.2% 5 21 26 1,948 27 84 19 ap1991

1999 67,155 850,000 7.9% 9 23 32 2,098 32 94 19 ap2000

2000 69,327 900,000 7.7% 11 26 37 1,873 32 89 22 ap2001

2001 71,015 900,000 7.9% 11 25 36 1,972 39 98 22 ap2002

2002 69,541 900,000 7.7% 11 24 35 1,986 38 97 22 ap2003

2003 67,826 900,000 7.5% 11 25 36 1,884 33 101 22 ap2004

2004 71,487 900,000 7.9% 10 26 36 1,985 32 90 23 ap2005

2006 92,106 951,000 9.7% 11 27 38 2,423 35 98 23 ap2007

2013 120,480 1,103,000 10.9% 16 25 41 2,938 38 142 7 ap2014

2016 165,430 1,452,000 11.4% 10 28 38 4,353 46 145 9 ap2017

2019 179,140 1,574,555 11.4% 14 27 41 4,369 31 150 10 ap2020

2021 194,600 1,484,000 13.1% 11 35 46 4,230 36 152 10 ap2022

2023 231,580 1,583,300 14.6% 16 34 50 4,631 4 38 22 29 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1970	66,291	525,000	12.6%	4	22	26	2,549		30	63		ap1971
1980	50,751	618,000	8.2%	5	21	26	1,951		27	64	19	ap1981
1990	50,656	700,000	7.2%	5	21	26	1,948		27	84	19	ap1991
1999	67,155	850,000	7.9%	9	23	32	2,098		32	94	19	ap2000
2000	69,327	900,000	7.7%	11	26	37	1,873		32	89	22	ap2001
2001	71,015	900,000	7.9%	11	25	36	1,972		39	98	22	ap2002
2002	69,541	900,000	7.7%	11	24	35	1,986		38	97	22	ap2003
2003	67,826	900,000	7.5%	11	25	36	1,884		33	101	22	ap2004
2004	71,487	900,000	7.9%	10	26	36	1,985		32	90	23	ap2005
2006	92,106	951,000	9.7%	11	27	38	2,423		35	98	23	ap2007
2013	120,480	1,103,000	10.9%	16	25	41	2,938		38	142	7	ap2014
2016	165,430	1,452,000	11.4%	10	28	38	4,353		46	145	9	ap2017
2019	179,140	1,574,555	11.4%	14	27	41	4,369		31	150	10	ap2020
2021	194,600	1,484,000	13.1%	11	35	46	4,230		36	152	10	ap2022
2023	231,580	1,583,300	14.6%	16	34	50	4,631	4	38	22	29	ap2024