Tarawa and Nauru (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Simon Samendra Mani, M.S.C., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Split: 10 September 1982
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Suva
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Kiribati
Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Square Kilometers: 832 (321 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, Teaoraereke, P.O. Box 79, Bairiki, Tarawa, Kiribati
Telephone: 21.279; 730.37.770

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Gilbert Islands {Isole Gilbert}
- Latin Name: Insularum Gilbertinarum
- Erected: 28 June 1897
- Vicariate
- Country: Kiribati
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Diocese of Tarawa
- Latin Name: Taravana
- Elevated: 21 June 1966
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Suva
- Country: Kiribati
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti
- Latin Name: Taravana, Nauruna et Funafutina
- Name Changed: 15 November 1978
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Suva
- Country: Kiribati
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Joseph-Marie Leray, M.S.C. † (27 Jul 1897 Appointed - Nov 1926 Retired)
Joseph Bach, M.S.C. † (26 Jan 1927 Appointed - 27 Dec 1933 Resigned)
Octave-Marie Terrienne, M.S.C. † (2 Dec 1937 Appointed - 28 Feb 1961 Resigned)
Pierre-Auguste-Antoine-Marie Guichet, M.S.C. † (19 Jul 1961 Appointed - 15 Nov 1978 Resigned)
Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea, M.S.C. † (15 Nov 1978 Appointed - 29 Jun 2020 Retired)
Koru Tito † (29 Jun 2020 Appointed - 7 Aug 2022 Died)
Simon Samendra Mani, M.S.C. (2 May 2024 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Gilbert Islands {Isole Gilbert}
28 June 1897	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Micronesia	Vicariate Apostolic of Gilbert Islands {Isole Gilbert} (erected)
Diocese of Tarawa
21 June 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Gilbert Islands {Isole Gilbert}	Diocese of Tarawa
Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti
15 November 1978	Name Changed	Diocese of Tarawa	Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti
10 September 1982	Split	Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Funafuti (Tuvalu) Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru
Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru
10 September 1982	Split	Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Funafuti (Tuvalu) Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru

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

Diocese of Tarawa

1970 24,925 55,887 44.6% 5 24 29 859 31 44 18 ap1971

Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti

1980 29,300 56,213 52.1% 2 17 19 1,542 21 47 22 ap1981

Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru

1990 37,000 72,000 51.4% 4 16 20 1,850 41 71 24 ap1991

1999 47,501 88,600 53.6% 8 12 20 2,375 3 37 88 24 ap2000

2000 49,000 90,800 54.0% 8 11 19 2,578 3 32 73 25 ap2001

2001 49,456 91,456 54.1% 12 14 26 1,902 3 43 92 24 ap2002

2002 48,500 91,000 53.3% 14 17 31 1,564 6 45 90 24 ap2003

2003 48,908 92,494 52.9% 14 12 26 1,881 2 33 99 24 ap2004

2004 48,908 92,494 52.9% 13 11 24 2,037 2 29 97 25 ap2005

2010 54,942 110,367 49.8% 21 8 29 1,894 2 22 97 21 ap2011

2014 63,644 119,435 53.3% 19 7 26 2,447 3 26 71 15 ap2015

2017 68,406 126,632 54.0% 17 6 23 2,974 23 73 21 ap2018

2020 65,925 127,705 51.6% 23 8 31 2,126 22 73 24 ap2021

2022 65,925 127,705 51.6% 23 8 31 2,126 14 73 24 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Tarawa
1970	24,925	55,887	44.6%	5	24	29	859		31	44	18	ap1971
Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti
1980	29,300	56,213	52.1%	2	17	19	1,542		21	47	22	ap1981
Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru
1990	37,000	72,000	51.4%	4	16	20	1,850		41	71	24	ap1991
1999	47,501	88,600	53.6%	8	12	20	2,375	3	37	88	24	ap2000
2000	49,000	90,800	54.0%	8	11	19	2,578	3	32	73	25	ap2001
2001	49,456	91,456	54.1%	12	14	26	1,902	3	43	92	24	ap2002
2002	48,500	91,000	53.3%	14	17	31	1,564	6	45	90	24	ap2003
2003	48,908	92,494	52.9%	14	12	26	1,881	2	33	99	24	ap2004
2004	48,908	92,494	52.9%	13	11	24	2,037	2	29	97	25	ap2005
2010	54,942	110,367	49.8%	21	8	29	1,894	2	22	97	21	ap2011
2014	63,644	119,435	53.3%	19	7	26	2,447	3	26	71	15	ap2015
2017	68,406	126,632	54.0%	17	6	23	2,974		23	73	21	ap2018
2020	65,925	127,705	51.6%	23	8	31	2,126		22	73	24	ap2021
2022	65,925	127,705	51.6%	23	8	31	2,126		14	73	24	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Joseph Bach, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Jan 1927 to 27 Dec 1933)
Pierre-Auguste-Antoine-Marie Guichet, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jul 1961; Bishop: 21 Jun 1966 to 15 Nov 1978)
(Jean-Marie-) Joseph Lebeau, M.S.C. † (Apostolic Administrator: 18 Dec 1933 to 1937)
Joseph-Marie Leray, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jul 1897 to Nov 1926)
Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea, M.S.C. † (Bishop: 15 Nov 1978 to 29 Jun 2020)
Octave-Marie Terrienne, M.S.C. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Dec 1937 to 28 Feb 1961)
Koru Tito † (Priest: 20 Jun 1987; Bishop: 29 Jun 2020 to 7 Aug 2022)

Source(s)

Diocese of Tarawa
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 59, Page 201, to Page 203
Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 71, Page 382, and Page 383
Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 75, Page 171, and Page 172

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Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru

Dioecesis Taravana et Nauruna