Diocese of

Rarotonga

Cook Islands , Niue

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Rarotonga / Rarotongan(us) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Suva

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1922.11.27: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Cook and Manihiki (English) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Tahiti Islands)
1926.08.11: Renamed as Apostolic Prefecture of Cook Islands (English)
1948.02.12: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Cook Islands (English)
1966.06.21: Promoted as Diocese of Rarotonga / Rarotongan(us) (Latin) (gained territory from Apostolic Vicariate of Tonga Islands and Niue and became suffragan of Wellington)
1972.05.13: Gained territory from Diocese of Tonga
1972.07.01: Became suffragan of Suva

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.06.29 – ...):

Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado, M.S.P. (65)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Rarotonga (Roman Rite)

Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado, M.S.P. (65)
(2024.06.29 – ...)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands)

Born:	1959.08.05 (Muntinlupa City, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1988.08.04
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.04.27

Ecclesiastical Superior of Funafuti (Tuvalu) (2014.02.24 – 2023.12.08)

Coadjutor Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (2023.12.08 – 2024.06.29)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (2024.06.29 – ...)

Bishop Paul Patrick Donoghue, S.M. (75)
(2011.04.11 – 2024.06.29)

Bishop emeritus of Rarotonga (Cook Islands)

To work together in Christ

Born:	1949.01.18 (Te Puke, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1975.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	2011.07.16

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (2011.04.11 – 2024.06.29)

President of Episcopal Conference of the Pacific (2016.09 – 2023.11)

Bishop Stuart France O’Connell, S.M.
(1996.11.08 – 2011.04.11)

Fortitude and faith

Born:	1935.05.11 (Lower Hutt, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1960.07.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.02.22
Died:	2019.08.02 (Auckland, New Zealand † 84)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1996.11.08 – 2011.04.11)

Bishop Robin Walsh Leamy, S.M.
(1984.01.09 – 1996.11.08)

Renew your bond with Christ

Born:	1934.07.27 (Wellington, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1958.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.04.07
Died:	2022.01.01 (Auckland, New Zealand † 87)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1984.01.09 – 1996.11.08)

Bishop Denis George Browne
(1977.03.21 – 1983.06.06)

Live the truth in love

Born:	1937.09.21 (Auckland, New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1962.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.06.29
Died:	2024.09.01 (Auckland, New Zealand † 86)

Priest of Auckland (New Zealand) (1962.06.30 – 1977.03.21)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1977.03.21 – 1983.06.06)

Bishop of Auckland (New Zealand) (1983.06.06 – 1994.12.19)

Bishop of Hamilton (New Zealand) (1994.12.19 – 2014.11.22)

President of Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (2002 – 2006)

President of New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (2003.11 – 2009.09)

Bishop John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M.
(1973.03.01 – 1977.03.21)

Born:	1915.10.09 (New Zealand)
Ordained Priest:	1940.12.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1954.02.11
Died:	1997.01.10 († 81)

Vicar Apostolic of Tonga Islands (Tonga) (1953.06.29 – 1957.03.22)

Titular Bishop of Sbida (1953.06.29 – 1966.06.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Tonga Islands and Niue (Tonga) (1957.03.22 – 1966.06.21)

Bishop of Tonga (Tonga) (1966.06.21 – 1972.04.07)

Apostolic Administrator of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1971 – 1973.03.01)

Titular Bishop of Caput Cilla (1972.04.07 – 1973.03.01)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1973.03.01 – 1977.03.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Auckland (New Zealand) (1977.03.21 – 1985)

Titular Bishop of Nigizubi (1977.03.21 – 1997.01.10)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Funafuti (Tuvalu) (1985.08.07 – 1986.07.14)

Bishop John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M.
(Apostolic Administrator 1971 – 1973.03.01)

Bishop Hendrick Joseph Cornelius Maria de Cocq, SS.CC.
(1966.06.21 – 1971.04.28)

Born:	1906.05.06 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1931.07.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1964.06.28
Died:	1998.01.22 († 91)

Titular Bishop of Aquæ in Byzacena (1964.02.10 – 1966.06.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Cook Islands (Cook Islands) (1964.02.10 – 1966.06.21)

Bishop of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) (1966.06.21 – 1971.04.28)

Vicars Apostolic of Cook Islands (Roman Rite)

Bishop Hendrick Joseph Cornelius Maria de Cocq, SS.CC.
(1964.02.10 – 1966.06.21)

(see above)

Bishop John David Hubaldus Lehman, SS.CC.
(1948.02.12 – 1959)

Born:	1887.01.02 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1914.07.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1948.04.18
Died:	1967.01.16 († 80)

Prefect Apostolic of Cook Islands (Cook Islands) (1939.06.30 – 1948.02.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Cook Islands (Cook Islands) (1948.02.12 – 1959)

Titular Bishop of Sertei (1948.02.12 – 1967.01.16)

Prefects Apostolic of Cook Islands (Roman Rite)

Fr. John David Hubaldus Lehman, SS.CC. (later Bishop)
(1939.06.30 – 1948.02.12)

(see above)

Fr. Bernardin Castanié, SS.CC.
(1926.08.11 – 1939)

Born:	1869.01.31 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1892.10.18
Died:	1939 († 70)

Prefect Apostolic of Cook and Manihiki (Cook Islands) (1923.02.01 – 1926.08.11)

Prefect Apostolic of Cook Islands (Cook Islands) (1926.08.11 – 1939)

Prefects Apostolic of Cook and Manihiki (Roman Rite)

Fr. Bernardin Castanié, SS.CC.
(1923.02.01 – 1926.08.11)

(see above)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado, M.S.P. (65) (2023.12.08 – 2024.06.29)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Tonga (←), Samoa–Pago Pago (↖), Tokelau (↖), Papeete (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 234 km²

Population: 2,777 Catholics (17.4% of 15,924 total)

Pastoral Centres: 15 parishes, 4 missions

Personnel: 4 priests (1 diocesan, 3 religious), 10 religious (3 brothers, 7 sisters)

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2024.10.02

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