Rarotonga (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado, M.S.P., Bishop
Paul Patrick Donoghue, S.M., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 21 June 1966
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Suva
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Cook Islands
Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Square Kilometers: 234 (90 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.catholiccookislands.co.ck
Mailing Address: Catholic Mission, P.O. Box 147, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Telephone: 20.816

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Manihiki
- Latin Name: de Cook et Manihiki
- Erected: 27 November 1922
- Country: Cook Islands
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Prefecture Apostolic of Cook Islands
- Latin Name: Insularum de Cook
- Name Changed: 11 August 1926
- Country: Cook Islands
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands
- Latin Name: Insularum de Cook
- Elevated: 12 February 1948
- Vicariate
- Country: Cook Islands
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Bernardin Castanié, SS.CC. † (1 Feb 1923 Appointed - 14 May 1939 Died)
John David Hubaldus Lehman, SS.CC. † (30 Jun 1939 Appointed - 24 Apr 1959 Resigned)
Hendrick Joseph Cornelius Maria de Cocq, SS.CC. † (10 Feb 1964 Appointed - 28 Apr 1971 Resigned)
John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M. † (1 Mar 1973 Appointed - 21 Mar 1977 Appointed, Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland)
Denis George Browne † (21 Mar 1977 Appointed - 6 Jun 1983 Appointed, Bishop of Auckland)
Robin Walsh Leamy, S.M. † (9 Jan 1984 Appointed - 8 Nov 1996 Resigned)
Stuart France O’Connell, S.M. † (8 Nov 1996 Appointed - 11 Apr 2011 Retired)
Paul Patrick Donoghue, S.M. (11 Apr 2011 Appointed - 29 Jun 2024 Retired)
Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado, M.S.P. (29 Jun 2024 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Manihiki
27 November 1922	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Tahiti {Isole Tahiti} (Cook and Manihiki)	Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Manihiki (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Cook Islands
11 August 1926	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Manihiki	Prefecture Apostolic of Cook Islands
Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands
12 February 1948	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Cook Islands	Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands
Diocese of Rarotonga
21 June 1966	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands	Diocese of Rarotonga
31 May 1972	Territory Added	Diocese of Tonga (Niue Island)	Diocese of Rarotonga
1 July 1972	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Rarotonga (from Wellington)

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 Rarotonga

1969 2,260 19,247 11.7% 1 13 14 161 13 7 4 ap1971

1980 2,801 26,000 10.8% 4 10 14 200 13 14 12 ap1981

1990 2,710 19,650 13.8% 3 8 11 246 12 10 15 ap1991

1999 3,356 17,550 19.1% 3 4 7 479 9 6 15 ap2000

2000 3,360 17,500 19.2% 2 5 7 480 10 6 15 ap2001

2001 3,140 15,100 20.8% 1 6 7 448 11 6 15 ap2002

2002 2,396 14,900 16.1% 1 6 7 342 10 6 15 ap2003

2003 3,090 18,027 17.1% 1 6 7 441 9 4 15 ap2004

2004 2,519 14,990 16.8% 6 6 419 10 3 15 ap2005

2010 3,089 12,320 25.1% 4 5 9 343 8 9 15 ap2011

2014 2,357 14,450 16.3% 2 5 7 336 5 9 15 ap2015

2017 2,255 11,885 19.0% 4 5 9 250 5 3 15 ap2018

2020 2,341 14,137 16.6% 1 4 5 468 4 3 15 ap2021

2022 2,574 14,802 17.4% 1 3 4 643 3 4 15 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Rarotonga
1969	2,260	19,247	11.7%	1	13	14	161	13	7	4	ap1971
1980	2,801	26,000	10.8%	4	10	14	200	13	14	12	ap1981
1990	2,710	19,650	13.8%	3	8	11	246	12	10	15	ap1991
1999	3,356	17,550	19.1%	3	4	7	479	9	6	15	ap2000
2000	3,360	17,500	19.2%	2	5	7	480	10	6	15	ap2001
2001	3,140	15,100	20.8%	1	6	7	448	11	6	15	ap2002
2002	2,396	14,900	16.1%	1	6	7	342	10	6	15	ap2003
2003	3,090	18,027	17.1%	1	6	7	441	9	4	15	ap2004
2004	2,519	14,990	16.8%		6	6	419	10	3	15	ap2005
2010	3,089	12,320	25.1%	4	5	9	343	8	9	15	ap2011
2014	2,357	14,450	16.3%	2	5	7	336	5	9	15	ap2015
2017	2,255	11,885	19.0%	4	5	9	250	5	3	15	ap2018
2020	2,341	14,137	16.6%	1	4	5	468	4	3	15	ap2021
2022	2,574	14,802	17.4%	1	3	4	643	3	4	15	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Denis George Browne † (Bishop: 21 Mar 1977 to 6 Jun 1983)
Bernardin Castanié, SS.CC. † (Prefect: 1 Feb 1923 to 14 May 1939)
Hendrick Joseph Cornelius Maria de Cocq, SS.CC. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Feb 1964; Bishop: 21 Jun 1966 to 28 Apr 1971)
Robin Walsh Leamy, S.M. † (Bishop: 9 Jan 1984 to 8 Nov 1996)
John David Hubaldus Lehman, SS.CC. † (Prefect: 30 Jun 1939; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1948 to 24 Apr 1959)
Stuart France O’Connell, S.M. † (Bishop: 8 Nov 1996 to 11 Apr 2011)
John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M. † (Apostolic Administrator: 28 Apr 1971; Bishop: 1 Mar 1973 to 21 Mar 1977)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Cook e Manihiki
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 15, Page 28
Prefecture Apostolic of Cook Islands
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 492
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 19, Page 128
Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 40, Page 355, and Page 356
Diocese of Rarotonga
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 64, Page 556, and Page 558

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Diocese of Rarotonga

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