Caroline Islands (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Amando Samo, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Split: 23 April 1993
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Agaña
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Federated States of Micronesia
Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Square Kilometers: 1,243 (480 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises the four Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap) and the Republic of Palau.
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: CI
Official Web Site: http://www.dioceseofthecarolines.org/
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 939, Chuuk, Caroline Islands, FM 96942, Federated States of Micronesia
Telephone: 330-2399
Fax: 330-4585

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Caroline Islands
- Latin Name: Carolinensium
- Erected: 19 December 1905
- Country: Federated States of Micronesia
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne and Caroline Islands
- United: 1 March 1911
- Vicariate
- Country: Federated States of Micronesia
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne, Caroline, and Marshall Islands
- United: 4 May 1923
- Vicariate
- Country: Federated States of Micronesia
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Vicariate Apostolic of Caroline and Marshall Islands
- Latin Name: Carolinensis et de Marshall
- Name Changed: 4 July 1946
- Vicariate
- Country: Federated States of Micronesia
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)
Diocese of Carolines-Marshalls
- Latin Name: Carolinensium-Marshallensium
- Elevated: 3 May 1979
- Country: Federated States of Micronesia
- Region: Pacific (Oceania)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Salvator Peter Walleser, O.F.M. Cap. † (21 Aug 1912 Appointed - 23 Jun 1919 Resigned)
Santiago López de Rego y Labarta, S.J. † (25 May 1923 Appointed - 29 Oct 1938 Resigned)
Thomas John Feeney, S.J. † (10 May 1951 Appointed - 9 Sep 1955 Died)
Vincent Ignatius Kennally, S.J. † (9 Dec 1956 Appointed - 20 Sep 1971 Retired)
Martin Joseph Neylon, S.J. † (20 Sep 1971 Succeeded - 25 May 1995 Retired)
Amando Samo (25 Mar 1995 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Caroline Islands
19 December 1905	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Caroline Islands (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne and Caroline Islands
1 March 1911	United	Prefecture Apostolic of Caroline Islands Prefecture Apostolic of Marianne Islands	Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne and Caroline Islands
Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne, Caroline, and Marshall Islands
4 May 1923	United	Vicariate Apostolic of Marshall Islands Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne and Caroline Islands	Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne, Caroline, and Marshall Islands
Vicariate Apostolic of Caroline and Marshall Islands
4 July 1946	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Marianne, Caroline, and Marshall Islands	Vicariate Apostolic of Caroline and Marshall Islands (Name Changed and Territory Lost) Vicariate Apostolic of Guam
Diocese of Carolines-Marshalls
3 May 1979	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Caroline and Marshall Islands	Diocese of Carolines-Marshalls
Diocese of Caroline Islands
23 April 1993	Split	Diocese of Carolines-Marshalls	Diocese of Caroline Islands Prefecture Apostolic of Marshall Islands

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Caroline and Marshall Islands

1949 15,582 45,619 34.2% 17 17 916 13 10 ap1951

1966 31,174 78,778 39.6% 32 32 974 9 45 9 ap1967

1970 34,127 82,024 41.6% 1 37 38 898 51 47 ap1971

1976 40,047 100,638 39.8% 1 37 38 1,053 7 46 39 19 ap1977

Diocese of Carolines-Marshalls

1980 48,711 117,000 41.6% 2 31 33 1,476 21 41 32 25 ap1981

1990 67,063 134,127 50.0% 3 32 35 1,916 42 33 43 27 ap1991

Diocese of Caroline Islands

1999 67,285 129,474 52.0% 10 11 21 3,204 39 15 39 24 ap2000

2000 67,325 132,563 50.8% 12 11 23 2,927 41 15 33 23 ap2001

2001 70,185 135,831 51.7% 13 14 27 2,599 41 16 33 26 ap2002

2002 75,837 136,944 55.4% 13 14 27 2,808 41 19 33 30 ap2003

2003 77,733 140,368 55.4% 13 18 31 2,507 41 19 33 26 ap2004

2006 68,500 128,718 53.2% 12 15 27 2,537 40 18 33 27 ap2007

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Caroline and Marshall Islands
1949	15,582	45,619	34.2%		17	17	916			13	10	ap1951
1966	31,174	78,778	39.6%		32	32	974		9	45	9	ap1967
1970	34,127	82,024	41.6%	1	37	38	898		51	47		ap1971
1976	40,047	100,638	39.8%	1	37	38	1,053	7	46	39	19	ap1977
Diocese of Carolines-Marshalls
1980	48,711	117,000	41.6%	2	31	33	1,476	21	41	32	25	ap1981
1990	67,063	134,127	50.0%	3	32	35	1,916	42	33	43	27	ap1991
Diocese of Caroline Islands
1999	67,285	129,474	52.0%	10	11	21	3,204	39	15	39	24	ap2000
2000	67,325	132,563	50.8%	12	11	23	2,927	41	15	33	23	ap2001
2001	70,185	135,831	51.7%	13	14	27	2,599	41	16	33	26	ap2002
2002	75,837	136,944	55.4%	13	14	27	2,808	41	19	33	30	ap2003
2003	77,733	140,368	55.4%	13	18	31	2,507	41	19	33	26	ap2004
2006	68,500	128,718	53.2%	12	15	27	2,537	40	18	33	27	ap2007

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Thomas John Feeney, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 May 1951 to 9 Sep 1955)
Vincent Ignatius Kennally, S.J. † (Apostolic Administrator: 4 Jul 1946; Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1956 to 20 Sep 1971)
Santiago López de Rego y Labarta, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 25 May 1923 to 29 Oct 1938)
Martin Joseph Neylon, S.J. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 2 Oct 1969; Vicar Apostolic: 20 Sep 1971; Bishop: 3 May 1979 to 25 May 1995)
Salvator Peter Walleser, O.F.M. Cap. † (Vicar Apostolic: 21 Aug 1912 to 23 Jun 1919)

Diocese of Caroline Islands

Dioecesis Carolinensium