MIARINARIVO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - It is situated in the central region of Madagascar. On 13 Dec. 1933 the entire eastern area of the apostolic vicariate of Tananarive was detached to form the mission sui iuris of M., entrusted to the Order of Trinitarians. It never, however, had its own Ordinary, and the Italian Trinitarians working there depended on the apostolic vicariate of Tananarive. On 15 March 1939 there was a rectification of boundaries in favour of the apostolic prefecture of Morondava. On 25 May
1939 the mission was raised to a vicariate with territory from Tananarive and with a small area from the apostolic vicariate of Majunga. It was entrusted to the native clergy, and a Malagasy was appointed apostolic vicar with episcopal rank; he was the island’s first native bishop. The Italian Trinitarians remained in place, and for them the apostolic prefecture of Tsirroanomandidy was erected on 13 Jan. 1949, with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of M.
The territory was first evangelized by the Jesuits and, from 1926, by the Italian Trinitarians. Malaria is widespread and means of communication are very limited. It has an area of approximately 20,000 sq. km., with about 85,000 inhabitants, of whom 39,019 are Catholics and 9,383 catechumens. Protestants are fewer than Catholics, while the others are still pagans. There are 10 native and 5 foreign priests; 7 native and 1 foreign sisters; 264 catechists; 103 teachers; 15 seminarians; 88 schools, of which 80 are elementary; 12 principal stations and 310 secondary stations; 30 churches; and 291 chapels. Charitable works are not lacking.