Diocese of Antsirabé, Madagascar 🇲🇬

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Antsirabé / Antsiraben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Antananarivo

Neighbouring Dioceses: Morondava (←), Tsiroanomandidy (↖), Miarinarivo (↑), Antananarivo (↗), Moramanga (↗), Toamasina (→), Ambositra (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1913.05.15: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Betafó (from Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar)
1918.08.24: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Betafó
1921.01.10: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Antsirabé / Antsiraben(sis) (Latin)
1938.01.08: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Morondava
1955.09.14: Promoted as Diocese of Antsirabé / Antsiraben(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Tananarive)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2023.07.10 – ...):

Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina (57)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar

Ordinaries

Bishops of Antsirabé (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina (57)
(2023.07.10 – ...)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar)
Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar

Born:	1969.03.24 (Mitsinjo, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	2000.08.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.08.11

Priest of Antananarivo (Madagascar) (2000.08.05 – 2019.07.08)

Titular Bishop of Zallata (2019.07.08 – 2023.07.10)

Auxiliary Bishop of Antananarivo (Madagascar) (2019.07.08 – 2023.07.10)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (2023.07.10 – ...)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (2024.11.13 – ...)

Bishop Philippe Ranaivomanana
(2009.11.14 – 2022.09.06)

Born:	1949.05.12 (Sarobatra, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	1977.10.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.05.13
Died:	2022.09.06 (Antsirabé, Madagascar † 73)

General Secretary of Episcopal Conference of Madagascar (? – 2012)

Bishop of Ihosy (Madagascar) (1999.01.02 – 2009.11.14)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (2009.11.14 – 2022.09.06)

Bishop Félix Ramananarivo, M.S.
(1994.11.11 – 2009.11.14)

Born:	1934.05.19 (Belanitra, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	1965.08.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1995.06.18
Died:	2013.05.12 († 78)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1994.11.11 – 2009.11.14)

Bishop Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (later Archbishop)
(1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17)

Born:	1927.05.01 (Anjozorobe, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	1961.07.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1988.11.27
Died:	2018.04.17 (Antananarivo, Madagascar † 90)

Coadjutor Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1989.06.19 – 1992.12.17)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fianarantsoa (Madagascar) (1992.12.17 – 2002.10.01)

Bishop Jean-Maria Rakotondrasoa, M.S.
(1974.02.28 – 1989.06.19)

Born:	1914.02.28 (Bétafo, Madagascar)
Ordained Priest:	1939.04.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1974.05.12
Died:	2002.08.24 († 88)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1974.02.28 – 1989.06.19)

Bishop Claude Rolland, M.S.
(1955.12.19 – 1973.10.15)

Born:	1910.08.17 (Santec, France)
Ordained Priest:	1936.07.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.02.12
Died:	1973.10.15 († 63)

Bishop of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1955.12.19 – 1973.10.15)

Vicars Apostolic of Antsirabé (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph-Paul Futy, M.S.
(1947.02.13 – 1955.03)

Born:	1889.05.05 (Poitiers, France)
Ordained Priest:	1912.07.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.04.27
Died:	1956.08.12 († 67)

Prefect Apostolic of Morondava (Madagascar) (1938 – 1947.02.13)

Vicar Apostolic of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1947.02.13 – 1955.03)

Titular Bishop of Aspendus (1947.02.13 – 1956.08.12)

Bishop Édouard Rostaing, M.S.
(1942.02.24 – 1946.05.18)

Born:	1879.12.12 (Novalaise, France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1942.05.27
Died:	1946.05.18 († 66)

Titular Bishop of Curium (1942.02.24 – 1946.05.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1942.02.24 – 1946.05.18)

Bishop François-Joseph Dantin, M.S.
(1921.01.10 – 1941.07.05)

Born:	1870.02.23 (Meyrieux-Trouet, France)
Ordained Priest:	1896.05.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1919.08.05
Died:	1941.07.05 († 71)

Prefect Apostolic of Betafó (Madagascar) (1913.06.24 – 1918.08.24)

Vicar Apostolic of Betafó (Madagascar) (1918.08.24 – 1921.01.10)

Titular Bishop of Satala in Armenia (1918.08.24 – 1941.07.05)

Vicar Apostolic of Antsirabé (Madagascar) (1921.01.10 – 1941.07.05)

Vicars Apostolic of Betafó (Roman Rite)

Bishop François-Joseph Dantin, M.S.
(1918.08.24 – 1921.01.10)

(see above)

Prefects Apostolic of Betafó (Roman Rite)

Fr. François-Joseph Dantin, M.S. (later Bishop)
(1913.06.24 – 1918.08.24)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Philibert Randriambololona, S.J. (later Archbishop) (1988.09.01 – 1989.06.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, Antsirabé, Antananarivo

Morondava (←), Tsiroanomandidy (↖), Miarinarivo (↑), Antananarivo (↗), Moramanga (↗), Toamasina (→), Ambositra (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 16,000 km²

Population: 1,084,561 Catholics (45.7% of 2,375,279 total)

Pastoral Centres: 36 parishes, 4 missions

Personnel: 199 priests (130 diocesan, 69 religious), 686 religious (293 brothers, 393 sisters), 142 seminarians