Diocese of Antsirabe
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antsirabe is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Antananarivo, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, in the city of Antsirabe, Antananarivo Province.
Statistics
As per 2014, it pastorally served 892,713 Catholics on 16,000 km2 in 29 parishes and 2 missions with 125 priests, 519 lay religious and 74 seminarians.History
- Established on May 15, 1913 as Apostolic Prefecture of Betafo, on Malagassy territory split off from the then Apostolic Vicariate of Central Madagascar.
- Promoted on August 24, 1918 as Apostolic Vicariate of Betafo, hence entitled to a titular bishop.
- Renamed on January 10, 1921 as Apostolic Vicariate of Antsirabe after its new see.
- Promoted on September 14, 1955 as Diocese of Antsirabe.
Bishops
Ordinaries
;Apostolic Prefect of Betafó- Father François-Joseph Dantin, Missionaries of Our Lady of LaSalette
- François-Joseph Dantin, M.S., Titular Bishop of Satala in Armenia
- François-Joseph Dantin, M.S.
- Édouard Rostaing, M.S., Titular Bishop of Curium
- Joseph-Paul Futy, M.S., Titular Bishop of Aspendus ; previously Apostolic Prefect of Morondava
- Claude Rolland, M.S.
- Jean-Maria Rakotondrasoa, M.S., died 2002
- Philibert Randriambololona, Society of Jesus, succeeding as previous Coadjutor Bishop of Antsirabé ; later Metropolitan Archbishop of Fianarantsoa, died 2018
- Félix Ramananarivo, M.S., died 2013
- Philippe Ranaivomanana, previously Bishop of Ihosy
Coadjutor Bishop
Other priest of this diocese who became bishop
- Désiré Tsarahazana, appointed Bishop of Fenoarivo Atsinanana in 2000; future Cardinal