Mission sui iuris of Funafuti

{{Short description|Latin Catholic missionary jurisdiction in Tuvalu}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:Mission ''sui iuris'' of Funafuti}} {{Catholic Church by country}} The '''Mission ''sui iuris'' of Funafuti''' ([[Latin]]: ''Missio Sui Iuris Funafutinum'') is a [[Latin Church|Latin Catholic]] [[mission sui juris|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]] priest, [[Eliseo Napiere|Fr. Eliseo Napiere]], as superior of the Mission sui iuris of Funafuti. He succeeded [[ Reynaldo Getalado|Reynaldo B. Getalado]], M. S. P., appointed in 2014, who was installed [[coadjutor bishop]] of the [[Diocese of Rarotonga]] on April 27.<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Vatican taps Filipino priest to lead papal mission to Pacific nation of Tuvalu|url= https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/pope-francis-taps-filipino-priest-to-lead-papal-mission-to-pacific-nation-of-tuvalu/|accessdate=June 4, 2024 |publisher= [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines]]|date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>

== History == 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.<ref>[https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=229c&u=23r The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28]</ref><ref>[https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/Tuvalu Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref>

== Ordinaries ==

;Ecclesiastical Superiors of Funafuti * [[Pio Taofinu'u]], [[Society of Mary (Marists)|SM]] (10 September 1982 – September 1985) * [[John Rodgers (New Zealand bishop)|John Hubert Macey Rodgers]] SM (7 August 1985 - 14 July 1986) * [[Camille DesRosiers]], SM (14 July 1986 – 24 September 2010) * [[John Ikataere Rarikin]], [[Sacred Heart Missionaries|MSC]] (24 September 2010 - 8 February 2014) * [[Reynaldo Getalado|Reynaldo B. Getalado]], MSP (24 February 2014 - 1 June 2024),<ref>[https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgetala.html Catholic Hierarchy website, retrieved 2023-08-08]</ref> * [[Eliseo Napiere]], MSP (2 June 2024 - present)<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Resignations and Appointments, 03.06.2024|url= https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/06/03/240603e.html|accessdate=June 4, 2024 |publisher= [[Holy See Press Office]]|date=June 3, 2024}}</ref>

==See also== * '''''<small>{{portal-inline|Tuvalu}}</small>''''' *[[Religion in Tuvalu]] == References== {{reflist}}

==Sources and external links== * [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/funa0.htm GCatholic, with incumbent bio links] * {{cite web|title = Mission "Sui Iuris" of Funafuti| work=Catholic-Hierarchy|url =http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dfuna.html|access-date =2014-02-24}} * [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bnapiere.html Father Eliseo Napiere, M.S.P.]

{{Oceania topic|Catholic Church in|groupstyle=background-color:gold|titlestyle=background-color:gold}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Funafuti, Mission Sui Iuris}} [[Category:Catholic Church in Tuvalu]] [[Category:Missions sui iuris]] [[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Suva]] [[Category:1982 establishments in Tuvalu]]