APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF FORT-DAUPHIN [TÔLANARO]. - The evangelization of the territory of the present apostolic vicariate of F.-D. (Madagascar) began in 1648, when St. Vincent de Paul sent into that area some priests of his Congregation, who were followed by others.

The hostility of the native chiefs and the inclemency of the climate meant that the missionaries who remained in 1672 were recalled to Paris. The mission was resumed only with the erection of the apostolic vicariate of southern Madagascar (16 Jan. 1806), with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Madagascar. The Lazarists found there a few hundred Catholics. On 20 May 1913 it received its present name. The xenophobic movements of 1904 and 1947 caused damage to the missions.

The territory is very large: 165,520 sq. km., inhabited by a native population estimated at 908,300 persons, representing a mosaic of tribes. The Catholics are (1948) 61,246, catechumens 4,140, native priests 5, foreign 27, brothers 4, native sisters 28, foreign 38, catechists 210, teachers 25, major seminarians 2. There is no lack of schools and charitable works, which are a valid aid to the apostolate.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: AAS, 5 (1913), p. 274; MC, p. 112. Severio Pavetti

@incollection{ec5_fort_dauphin_vicariato_apostol, author = {Paventi, Saverio}, title = {Fort-Dauphin, vicariato apostolico di}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {V}, pages = {1535--1536}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/fort-dauphin-vicariato-apostolico-di} }

One of some 20,000 entries brought back from the twelve printed volumes (1948–54). Spotted something? Help us improve it.

Apostolic Vicariate of Fort-Dauphin [Tôlanaro]

About this entry