The Diocese of Vanimo is a Latin Catholic suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Madang in Papua New Guinea, and depends on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Diocese of Vanimo

Dioecesis Uanimitana
Coat of arms
Location
CountryPapua New Guinea
TerritoryWest Sepik
MetropolitanArchdiocese of Madang
Statistics
Area26,000 km2 (10,000 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2015)
  • 111,000
  • 37,765 (7.6%)
Parishes13
Information
DenominationCatholic Church
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
Established15 November 1966
CathedralHoly Cross Pro-Cathedral
Patron saintThe Holy Cross
Secular priests26
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopFrancis Meli, JCL
Bishops emeritusCesare Bonivento, P.I.M.E.

Its cathedral episcopal see is the Holy Cross Pro-cathedral, in Vanimo in the province of West Sepik (Sandaun).

Statistics

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As per 2015, it pastorally served 37,765 Catholics (34.0% of 111,000 total population) on 26,000 km² in 13 parishes and 96 missions with 26 priests (8 diocesan, 18 religious), 43 lay religious (20 brothers, 23 sisters) and 14 seminarians.

History

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  • It was erected in 1963.09.13 as Apostolic Vicariate of Vanimo / Uanimitanus (Latin adjective), on territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Aitape (now a diocese)
  • Promoted on 1966.11.15 as Diocese of Vanimo / Uanimitan(us) (Latin).

Ordinaries

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(all Roman rite, initially foreign members of missionary congregations)

Apostolic Prefect of Vanimo
Suffragan Bishops of Vanimo
  • Paschal Sweeney, C.P. (see above 1966.11.15 – retired 1979.09.22), died 1981
  • John Etheridge, C.P. (born Australia) (1980.04.24 – retired 1989.02.07), died 2002
  • Cesare Bonivento, Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (P.I.M.E.) (born Italy) (1991.12.21 – retired 2018.02.05)
  • Francis Meli (first native incumbent) (2018.02.05 – ...).

See also

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References

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2°40′59″S 141°18′12″E / 2.6831°S 141.3032°E / -2.6831; 141.3032