Diocese of Rarotonga
Diocese of Rarotonga Dioecesis Rarotongana | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country | Cook Islands, Niue |
| Metropolitan | Suva |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 234 km2 (90 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Parishes | 15 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 21 June 1966 |
| Cathedral | Saint Joseph's Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Saint Joseph |
| Secular priests | 9 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado |
| Bishops emeritus | Paul Patrick Donoghue |
The Diocese of Rarotonga (Latin: Dioecesis Rarotongana) in the Cook Islands is a Latin Catholic suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Suva in neighbouring Fiji. It was erected as the Prefecture Apostolic of Cook and Manihiki in 1922, elevated to the Vicariate Apostolic of Cook Islands in 1948 and elevated as the Diocese of Rarotonga in 1966. Niue is also part of the diocese, having been transferred from the Diocese of Tonga in 1972.[1]
Bishops
[edit]- Bernardin Castanié, C.I.M. (1923–1939)
- John David Hubaldus Lehman, C.I.M. (1939–1959)
- Hendrick Joseph Cornelius Maria de Cocq, SS.CC. (1964–1971)
- John Hubert Macey Rodgers, S.M. (1973–1977)
- Denis George Browne (1977–1983)
- Robin Walsh Leamy, S.M. (1984–1996)
- Stuart France O'Connell, S.M. (1996–2011)
- Paul Donoghue, S.M. (2011–2024)
- Reynaldo Getalado, M.S.P. (2024–present)[1]
Education
[edit]The primary school is Saint Josephs School, Rarotonga. Saint Mary's School on Mauke Island has closed down.
The secondary (high) school is Nukutere College in Rarotonga.
Churches
[edit]Catholic Cathedral of Rarotonga (and the Cook Islands)
Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Avarua is the only Catholic cathedral in the Cook Islands.
The three other Catholic churches in Rarotonga are St Mary's in Arorangi Village, St Paul's in Titikaveka Village and Sacred Heart in Matavera village.
References
[edit]- 1 2 Cheney, David M. "Diocese of Rarotonga". catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
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