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Catholic Church in Madagascar

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (CEM). Credit: ACI Africa

Prioritize Citizens’ “basic daily needs”: Catholic Bishops in Madagascar to Government

Nov 16, 2024

Catholic Bishops in Madagascar have called on the country’s government to prioritize the provision of the basic needs to citizens and to address the challenges of the people of God in the Indian Ocean Island nation off the Southeastern coast of Africa.

Bishop Gaetano Di Pierro (left) and Bishop Marcellin Randriamamonjy (right)

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Bishop of Farafangana Diocese in Madagascar, Appoints Successor

Oct 31, 2024

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Gaetano Di Pierro of the Catholic Diocese of Farafangana in Madagascar and appointed Bishop Marcellin Randriamamonjy of the country’s Fenoarivo Atsinanana Diocese as his successor.

Sr. Victoire Noeline Rasoamanarivo. Credit: ACI Africa

Catholic Nuns in Madagascar Empowering Vulnerable Women, Single Mothers with Vocational Skills

Aug 31, 2024

Members of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Diego-Suarez (CIM-D/S) in Madagascar are empowering vulnerable women, including single mothers, with vocational skills.

Credit: ACI Africa

Madagascar’s Eucharistic Congress Spurs Renewed Commitment to Eucharistic Life

Aug 29, 2024

The recently concluded National Eucharistic Congress (KEN 2024)  in Madagascar has been hailed as a “unique moment” for the Indian Ocean Island nation that fostered a “deep sense of unity and spiritual renewal.”

Désiré Cardinal Tsarahazana. Credit: ACI Africa

Cardinal in Madagascar Defends Traditional Family Values, Advocates for “deepening faith, unity” amid Global Challenges

Aug 28, 2024

Désiré Cardinal Tsarahazana, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Toamasina in Madagascar, has defended the country’s traditional family values and marriage, including the concept of procreation and the union between a man and a woman. 

Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina of the Catholic Diocese of Antsirabé in Madagascar. Credit: ACI Africa

Fraternity Emphasized at Madagascar’s Eucharistic Congress as “remedy that can restore broken relationships”

Aug 27, 2024

Fostering fraternity can go a long way in addressing the negative effects of disunity in families as well as wounds resulting from a life of sin, Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina of the Catholic Diocese of Antsirabé in Madagascar has said.

Désiré Cardinal Tsarahazana. Credit: ACI Africa

Madagascar’s National Eucharistic Congress “will give us the strength to live our faith”: Cardinal

Aug 25, 2024

The August 23-25 National Eucharist Congress (KEN 2024) in Madagascar, the third in the country, could go a long way in strengthening the faith of the people of God in the country, the Cardinal in the Indian Ocean Island nation has said.

“This Congress will help us achieve fraternity”: Catholic Archbishop on Madagascar’s National Eucharistic Congress

Aug 24, 2024

The August 23-25 National Eucharist Congress in Madagascar, the third in the country, can help the Indian Ocean Island nation “achieve” peaceful co-existence, a Catholic Archbishop in the country has said. In his homily during the opening Mass of KEN 2024, Archbishop Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson underscored the need for spiritual renewal and highlighted the role of the Eucharistic Congress in achieving fraternity in Madagascar as important. “This congress will help us achieve fraternity in our country and the world. The world is already destroyed in every way and needs healing,” Archbishop Ramaroson said, and added, “If we want fraternity to reign in this world, we must first change ourselves.” To achieve this transformation, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana said, participants in the Eucharistic celebration that was held at Kianjasoa stadium needed to arm themselves with three essential virtues: “generosity, service, and truth.” On his part, President Andry Rajoelina expressed his gratitude and that of the State for the Catholic Church's contribution to society.  “It is only fair that the State supports the actions of the Church in return, as it does a lot for the well-being of the population,” President Rajoelina said. He said fraternity is “important and worthy of consideration for us to take on the tasks and challenges we will face, for the development of the country.” The President of the Indian Ocean nation donated a 5-hectare land to the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana. The Malagasy Metropolitan See plans to build facilities on this land to assist the residents.  President Rajoelina also promised to contribute to the construction of the St. Francis of Assisi Church. Meanwhile, in his message to participants of the Eucharistic Congress, the President of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity and Pastoral Care at CEM,  Archbishop Jean de Dieu Raoelison, called for staying “away from anything that may cause division and strife because Christ has united us all as one in Himself on the Cross.” “Take advantage of this Congress to gain strength to approach all people and to approach God,” Archbishop Raoelison said. He implored, “May faith in Jesus Christ in the Eucharist fill our hearts and be reflected in our lives.” The Malagasy Catholic Archbishop further implored, “We wish a holy pilgrimage for all of us participating in this National Eucharistic Congress and may this great celebration bring good results for our souls. May the Blessed Virgin Mary help and support us to examine carefully in our hearts.” Organized under the theme, “Fraternity to Heal the World: You are all brothers and sisters (Mt 23:8),” the August 23-25 Eucharistic Congress aims to restore the value of fraternity among the people of God in the Indian Ocean Island nation.    

Mons. Orthasie Marcellin Herivonjilalaina, appointed Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Ambatondrazaka in Madagascar on 14 August 2024

Rector of St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary in Madagascar Appointed Bishop of Ambatondrazaka Diocese

Aug 14, 2024

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Orthasie Marcellin Herivonjilalaina who has been serving as the Rector of St. Francis de Sales Major Seminary, Toamasina, in Madagascar as the Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Ambatondrazaka.

Archbishop Benjamin Marc Balthason Ramaroson of the Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana in the Indian Ocean Island nation of Madagascar. Credit: ACI Africa/Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana

“Ready to welcome 40,000 pilgrims”: Catholic Archbishop in Madagascar on National Eucharistic Congress

Jul 26, 2024

The Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana in the Indian Ocean Island nation of Madagascar is set to host thousands of pilgrims for the Third National Eucharistic Congress (KEN 2024) scheduled for August 23-25, the Local Ordinary has said in an interview. 

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (CEM). Credit: Vatican Media

Corruption, “lack of genuine decentralization” among Challenges Hindering Madagascar’s Development: Catholic Bishops

May 19, 2024

Catholic Bishops in Madagascar have identified corruption, lack of genuine decentralization, poverty, insecurity, and drug abuse among challenges that they say hinder development in the Indian Ocean Island nation. 

sergign/Shutterstock.

Madagascar’s Catholic Bishops Fault Bill to Castrate Child Rapists as “against human dignity”

May 16, 2024

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (CEM) have condemned a bill that proposes to have rapists of minors castrated, arguing that such a law goes “against human dignity.”

Vicar Delegate in Madagascar’s Maintirano Diocese Appointed Catholic Bishop for Same Episcopal See

May 3, 2024

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Clément Herizo Rakotoasimbola, who has been serving as Vicar Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator “sede vacante” of Maintirano Diocese in Madagascar as the Local Ordinary of the same Episcopal See.

Mons. Jean Claude Rakotoarisoa (left) appointed Local Ordinary for Miarinarivo Diocese in Madagascar, and Mons. Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga (right) appointed Auxiliary Bishop for Tanzania’s Mbeya Archdiocese.

Pope Francis Appoints Bishop in Madagascar, Auxiliary Bishop in Tanzania

Mar 9, 2024

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Jean Claude Rakotoarisoa as the Local Ordinary for Miarinarivo Diocese in Madagascar, and Mons. Godfrey Jackson Mwasekaga as the Auxiliary Bishop for Tanzania’s Mbeya Archdiocese. 

A bishop's pectoral cross. | Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop in Madagascar, Auxiliary Bishop in Tanzania

Feb 13, 2024

Pope Francis has appointed a new Bishop for Madagascar’s Catholic Diocese of Morombe and an Auxiliary Bishop for Dodoma Archdiocese in Tanzania.

Bishop Vincent Rakotozafy (right) and Mons. Luc Olivier Razafitsimialona (left). Credit: Tôlagnaro Diocese

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Catholic Bishop in Madagascar, Appoints Successor

Dec 5, 2023

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Vincent Rakotozafy from the pastoral care of Tôlagnaro Diocese in Madagascar, and has appointed Mons. Luc Olivier Razafitsimialona, and member of the Clergy of the Diocese of Ihosy in the Indian Ocean Island nation, as his successor.

Donor funding helps support day-to-day needs for the Salesian community in Lilongwe, Zambia. Credit: Salesian Missions

Day for Poverty Eradication: Salesians Highlight Initiatives to Vulnerable in Africa

Oct 20, 2023

On the annual event of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, officials of the U.S.-based development arm of the Religious Institute of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), Salesian Missions, have reviewed their initiatives that seek to support vulnerable persons across the globe, including Africa.

Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru (left), appointed pioneer Bishop of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Wote in Kenya and Bishop Gustavo Bombín Espino (right), appointed Archbishop of Toliara Archdiocese in Madagascar in Madagascar. Credit: Seed Consolata/La Sede de Pedro

Pope Francis Appoints Pioneer Bishop for Kenyan New Diocese, New Archbishop in Madagascar

Jul 22, 2023

Pope Francis has erected the Catholic Diocese of Wote as a new Episcopal See in Kenya and appointed Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru, who has been serving as the Local Ordinary of Kenya’s Embu Diocese as its pioneer Bishop.

Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina appointed Local Ordinary of Antsirabé Diocese in Madagascar on 10 July 2023. Credit: Antananarivo Archdiocese

Auxiliary Bishop in Madagascar Appointed Local Ordinary for Antsirabé Diocese

Jul 10, 2023

Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina, the Auxiliary Bishop of Antananarivo Archdiocese in Madagascar as the Local Ordinary of Antsirabé Diocese in the second-largest island country.

Bishop Jean Claude Randrianarisoa (right), retires as Bishop of Madagascar’s Miarinarivo Diocese and Bishop Marie Fabien Raharilamboniaina (left) of Madagascar’s Morondava Diocese, appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of the Malagasy Episcopal See. Credit: Courtesy Photo

Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of 61-year-old Bishop in Madagascar

Jun 12, 2023

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Jean Claude Randrianarisoa of Madagascar’s Miarinarivo Diocese.