ANTSIRABÉ, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO — The mission originated from the apostolic prefecture of Betafé, erected on 15 May 1913 by detachment from the vicariate of Madagascar (v. TANANARIVE), and raised to a vicariate on 24 Aug. 1918; it was named A. by decree of 10 Jan. 1921. Its northern boundaries (with the vicariate of Tananarive) were subsequently revised in 1933, and part of its territory was detached for the erection of the prefecture of Morondava in 1938.
Out of a total population of approximately 212,000 inhabitants, there are approximately 30,000 pagans, about twice as many Protestants, 98,031 Catholics (including approximately 300 lodgings), and 4,915 catechumens. The mission is entrusted to 24 priests, Missionaries of La Salette (11 of whom are natives), 14 native and 13 foreign brothers, and 41 sisters. In addition to the minor seminary (68 pupils), there were 136 elementary schools with 5,046 pupils. The continuous and rapid religious progress is due, among other things, to the dense network of secondary stations, where 483 catechists supplement the activity of the 8 quasi-parishes.