Apostolic Prefecture of the Falkland Islands

Prefecture Apostolic of Falkland Islands
Apostolica Praefectura de Insulis Falkland
Location
Country Falkland Islands
Territory Falkland Islands
Ecclesiastical province Immediately subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Area 12,173 km2 (4,700 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics
(as of 2010)
3,000
300 (10.0%)
Parishes 1
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Rite Latin Rite
Established 10 January 1952
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Prefect Michael Bernard McPartland, S.M.A.

The Apostolic Prefecture of Falkland Islands (Latin: Apostolica Præfectura de Insulis Falkland) is a Roman Catholic apostolic prefecture (missionary circoncscription) located in the Falkland Islands and covering the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,[1][2][3] UK Southern Atlantic Ocean overseas possessions, off Argentina and Antarctica.

It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See, not part of an ecclesiastical province. Its only church on the actual Falklands is its episcopal see, St Mary's, in the Falklands capital Stanley. Christ Church Cathedral is not a Catholic church and is the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, consecrated in 1892.

History

The Latin missionary jurisdiction was established on 1 October 1952 as Apostolic Prefecture, splitting the offshore territory of Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands from the Diocese of Punta Arenas in Chile.

Mission Sui Iuris of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha

An exempt mission sui juris has been created, on 18 August 1986, for the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, comprising the Atlantic ocean islands of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, off the West African coasts, splitting these territories from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town.

It comprises a church or chapel on each dependent island :

From the start, the office of its ecclesiastical superior (also exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See) has been vested in the Apostolic Prefect of the Falklands, a fellow UK Southern Atlantic overseas possession.

Incumbent ordinaries

So far, all incumbents were members of Roman rite missionary congregations, none titular bishops

Prelates of the Falkland Islands
Prelates of the Falkland Islands and Ecclesiastical Superiors of Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha

Sources, References and External links

References

  1. "Press release from the Office of the Bishopric of the Forces: Former Territorial Army Chaplain to become the next Catholic Forces Bishop". Archdiocese of Southwark. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  2. "Ordination of Mgr Richard Moth as Catholic Bishop of the Forces". The Catholic Church in England and Wales. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  3. "THE RIGHT REVEREND THOMAS MATTHEW BURNS". Diocese of Minevia. Retrieved 9 April 2016.


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