Fianarantsoa, Vicariate Apostolic of

FIANARANTSOA, VICARIATE APOSTOLIC OF. - On the island of Madagascar; it was erected on 10 May 1913 with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of central Madagascar, now of Tananarive, and entrusted to the Society of Jesus. It is located in the central-southern part of the island. The coastal zone has a climate that is enervating and deadly for Europeans because of the numerous watercourses and the marshes; in the forest region the climate is humid and the roads are lacking; on the high plateaus, by contrast, life is less harsh and healthier.

The mission was in full development when the revolution of 1947 arrested its progress with the destruction of 117 churches and about fifty of them and schools. The area is 68,000 sq km with a population of about 650,000 inhabitants, of whom in 1948 about 184,608 were Catholics, 95,000 Protestants and 350,000 pagans. The Jesuit missionaries number 71, of whom 8 are Malagasy, besides 2 indigenous Ducessan priests. The brothers number 27, of whom 17 are Malagasy; the sisters number 103, of whom 32 are Malagasy. The catechists number more than 750, and of the 390 teachers several are graduates. There are 26 districts, 1 quasi-parish, 800 secondary stations, more than 220 churches. Three periodicals are published there with fair circulation. Elementary schools 140 with 9443 pupils; middle schools 120 with 10,285 pupils; higher schools 11 with 4265 pupils. Various charitable works are in operation, and Catholic Action is also organized.

Saverio Paventi