The Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti (Latin: Missio Sui Iuris Funafutinum) is a Catholic Latin mission sui juris (pre-diocesan missionary jurisdiction) in Tuvalu, Polynesia.

It depends on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, yet it is exceptionally not exempt, but instead is a suffragan of a Metropolitan archdiocese. Since 21 March 2003, that metropolitan see has been the Archdiocese of Suva; until that date, it had been a different see, i.e., the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia.

Its only place of worship is Teone Church in Vaiaku, on Fongafale island in Tuvalu.

On June 3, 2024, Pope Francis appointed Mission Society of the Philippines' Fr. Eliseo Napiere, as superior of MSIF. He succeeded Reynaldo B. Getalado, M. S. P., appointed in 2014, who was installed Coadjutor bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rarotonga on April 27.[1]

History

edit

Ellice Islands with very few Catholics were united to Gilbert Islands as a protectorate and then British colony Gilbert and Ellice Islands from 1916. The vicariate apostolic of the Gilbert Islands became the Diocese of Tarawa in 1966. The Diocese of Tarawa, Nauru and Funafuti was split on 10 September 1982 into the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru and the Mission Sui Iuris of Funafuti.

In 2020, estimates suggested that there were 95-100 Catholics in Tuvalu, with one priest.[2][3]

Ordinaries

edit
Ecclesiastical Superiors of Funafuti

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Vatican taps Filipino priest to lead papal mission to Pacific nation of Tuvalu". Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  2. ^ The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  3. ^ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
  4. ^ Catholic Hierarchy website, retrieved 2023-08-08
  5. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 03.06.2024". Holy See Press Office. June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
edit