Toliara (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Gustavo Bombín Espino, O.SS.T., Archbishop
Fulgence Rabeony, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 3 December 2003
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Madagascar
Square Kilometers: 43,570 (16,828 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.toliaraecclesia.org/
Mailing Address: Archeveche, B.P. 30, Toliara 601, Madagascar
Telephone: 033.08.126.14

Historical Details

Diocese of Tuléar
- Latin Name: Tulearensis
- Erected: 8 April 1957
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
- Country: Madagascar
Diocese of Toliara
- Latin Name: Toliarana
- Name Changed: 28 October 1989
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Fianarantsoa
- Country: Madagascar
- Square Kilometers: 43,570 (16,828 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Michel-Henri Canonne, A.A. † (25 Apr 1959 Appointed - 28 Feb 1974 Resigned)
René Joseph Rakotondrabé † (28 Feb 1974 Appointed - 15 May 1989 Appointed, Bishop of Tamatave)
Fulgence Rabeony, S.J. (2 Apr 1990 Appointed - 22 Jul 2023 Retired)
Gustavo Bombín Espino, O.SS.T. (22 Jul 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Tuléar
8 April 1957	Erected	Diocese of Fort-Dauphin (Tulear, with Manombo and Sakaraha; Betioky with Tongobory and Benenitra; Ampanihy with Ejeda and Androka)	Diocese of Tuléar (erected)
11 December 1958	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Tuléar (from Tananarive)
Diocese of Toliara
28 October 1989	Name Changed	Diocese of Tuléar	Diocese of Toliara
Archdiocese of Toliara
3 December 2003	Elevated	Diocese of Toliara	Archdiocese of Toliara

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 Tuléar

1970 36,000 350,000 10.3% 2 18 20 1,800 42 66 10 ap1971

1980 35,670 405,000 8.8% 2 19 21 1,698 29 89 14 ap1981

Diocese of Toliara

1990 56,000 791,196 7.1% 3 28 31 1,806 50 198 14 ap1991

1999 86,000 722,000 11.9% 9 26 35 2,457 50 207 20 ap2000

2000 87,000 750,000 11.6% 9 25 34 2,558 58 216 19 ap2002

2002 65,000 700,000 9.3% 9 28 37 1,756 75 240 20 ap2003

Archdiocese of Toliara

2003 77,603 795,000 9.8% 11 33 44 1,763 64 244 20 ap2004

2004 79,000 795,000 9.9% 10 38 48 1,645 56 279 19 ap2005

2010 94,645 912,000 10.4% 22 40 62 1,526 67 277 21 ap2011

2014 119,638 1,014,000 11.8% 26 37 63 1,899 68 305 23 ap2015

2017 160,175 1,097,500 14.6% 30 36 66 2,426 55 223 24 ap2018

2020 174,340 1,235,000 14.1% 33 36 69 2,526 62 305 26 ap2021

2022 187,000 1,312,000 14.3% 37 38 75 2,493 69 338 28 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Tuléar
1970	36,000	350,000	10.3%	2	18	20	1,800	42	66	10	ap1971
1980	35,670	405,000	8.8%	2	19	21	1,698	29	89	14	ap1981
Diocese of Toliara
1990	56,000	791,196	7.1%	3	28	31	1,806	50	198	14	ap1991
1999	86,000	722,000	11.9%	9	26	35	2,457	50	207	20	ap2000
2000	87,000	750,000	11.6%	9	25	34	2,558	58	216	19	ap2002
2002	65,000	700,000	9.3%	9	28	37	1,756	75	240	20	ap2003
Archdiocese of Toliara
2003	77,603	795,000	9.8%	11	33	44	1,763	64	244	20	ap2004
2004	79,000	795,000	9.9%	10	38	48	1,645	56	279	19	ap2005
2010	94,645	912,000	10.4%	22	40	62	1,526	67	277	21	ap2011
2014	119,638	1,014,000	11.8%	26	37	63	1,899	68	305	23	ap2015
2017	160,175	1,097,500	14.6%	30	36	66	2,426	55	223	24	ap2018
2020	174,340	1,235,000	14.1%	33	36	69	2,526	62	305	26	ap2021
2022	187,000	1,312,000	14.3%	37	38	75	2,493	69	338	28	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Gustavo Bombín Espino, O.SS.T. (Archbishop: 22 Jul 2023 - )
Fulgence Rabeony, S.J. (Bishop: 2 Apr 1990; Archbishop: 3 Dec 2003 to 22 Jul 2023)
Jean Désiré Razafinirina (Priest: 10 Aug 2003 to 12 Feb 2024)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Michel-Henri Canonne, A.A. † (Bishop: 25 Apr 1959 to 28 Feb 1974)
René Joseph Rakotondrabé † (Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Mar 1972; Bishop: 28 Feb 1974 to 15 May 1989)

Source(s)

Diocese of Tuléar
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 945, to Page 947
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 449, to Page 451
Diocese of Toliara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 82, Page 207
Archdiocese of Toliara
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 96, Page 87

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Archdiocese of Toliara

Archidioecesis Toliarana