Roman Catholic Diocese of Manado
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Manado is a Latin Rite suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Makassar on Sulawesi island in Indonesia, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The cathedral episcopal see, the Cathedral Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, located in the city of Manado, Sulawesi Utara, with its European architectural styles, unique bell towers, and topped with a beautiful central cupola, is located on the iconic Sam Ratulangi Street.
Statistics and extent
As per 2022, it pastorally served 148,035 Catholics on 90,000 km² in 76 parishes and 240 missions with 134 priests, 366 lay religious and 98 seminarians.Its service area covers the entire administrative provinces of North Sulawesi, Gorontalo and Central Sulawesi.
History
Below is a summary of the history leading up to the formation of this diocese.- Established on 19 November 1919 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Celebes, on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia
- 1 February 1934: Promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Celebes
- 13 April 1937: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Manado, having lost territory to establish the then Apostolic Prefecture of Makassar
- Promoted on 3 January 1961 as Diocese of Manado, as suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Makassar
Ordinaries
- Father Gerardo Vesters, Sacred Heart Missionaries , later Titular Bishop of Diocletianopolis in Palæstina as Apostolic Vicar of Rabaul
- Joannes Walter Panis, M.S.C.
;Apostolic Vicars of Manado
- Joannes Walter Panis, M.S.C.
- Nicolas Verhoeven, M.S.C. , Titular Bishop of Hermonthis
- Nicolas Verhoeven, M.S.C., emeriate as Titular Bishop of Strongoli, died 1981
- Theodorus Hubertus Moors, M.S.C. , died 2003; succeeded as former Titular Bishop of Choba and Auxiliary Bishop of Manado
- Joseph Theodorus Suwatan, M.S.C. , also President of Episcopal Conference of Indonesia
- Bishop Benedictus Estephanus Rolly Untu, M.S.C., no previous prelature