Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Arabiæ Meridionalis) is an apostolic vicariate of the Catholic Church with territorial jurisdiction for Oman, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The vicar apostolic of the vicariate is Paul Hinder, OFM Cap. It was first established in 1888 (as the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden) and took its current name in 2011. The see of the vicar apostolic is in St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi. Since 1916 it has been in the care of the Capuchins of Florence.
Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia Apostolicus Vicariatus Arabiae Meridionalis النيابة الرسولية من جنوب الجزيرة العربية | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | Yemen United Arab Emirates Oman |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 929,969 km2 (359,063 sq mi) |
| Churches | 16 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | |
| Cathedral | St. Joseph's Cathedral, Abu Dhabi |
| Language |
|
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Episcopal Vicar | Paul Hinder, OFM Cap. |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| Website of the Apostolic Vicariate | |
History
The territory was originally part of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Gallas, but it was separated into an apostolic prefecture by Pope Pius IX on 21 January 1875. On 25 April 1888, Pope Leo XIII made the Apostolic Vicariate of Aden, located in Yemen. On the 28 June 1889, the name was changed to the Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia, responsible for the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding region: Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Somalia and Yemen.[6]
On 29 June 1953, the then Apostolic Prefecture of Kuwait (which has become the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia) was separated from the Apostolic Vicariate of Arabia. In 1973, the see of the jurisdiction was transferred from Aden to St. Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.[7] A subsequent redrawing of boundaries in 2011 reduced its jurisdiction to the countries of Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The vicariate has been governed by the Capuchin friars since 1916.[6]
Apostolic Vicars of Southern Arabia
- Louis-Callixte Lasserre, OFM Cap. (1888 – April 1900)
- Bernard Thomas Edward Clark, OFM Cap. (21 March 1902 – 18 June 1910)
- Raffaele Presutti, OFM Cap. (13 September 1910 – 1915)
- Evangelista Latino Enrico Vanni, OFM Cap. (15 April 1916 – 1925)
- Pacifico Tiziano Micheloni, OFM Cap. (25 April 1933 – 6 July 1936)
- Giovanni Tirinnanzi, OFM Cap. (2 July 1937 – 27 January 1949)[8]
- Irzio Luigi Magliacani, OFM Cap. (25 December 1949 – 1969)
- Giovanni Bernardo Gremoli, OFM Cap. (2 October 1975 – 21 March 2005)
- Paul Hinder, OFM Cap. (21 March 2005 – present) [9]
Statistics
Area
- 929,969 km²
Population
- Total population: 42,948,063
- Total Catholic Population: 998,500
- Parishes: 16
- Diocesan priests: 17
- Priests belonging to Religious Institutes: 51
- Total Priests: 68
- Permanent deacons living in the diocese: 1
- Professed non-priest Men Religious belonging to Religious Institutes: 1
- Professed Women Religious belonging to Religious Institutes: 53
List of Churches under The Jurisdiction of The Vicar
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi - St. Joseph's Cathedral
Mussafah - St. Paul's Church
Al Ain - St. Mary’s Church
Ruwais - St. John the Baptist Church
Jebel Ali - St. Francis of Assisi Church
Sharjah - St. Michael’s Church
Ras Al Khaimah - St. Anthony of Padua Church
Fujairah - Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
Oman
Muscat - Holy Spirit Church , Sts. Peter and Paul Church
Salalah - St. Francis Xavier Church
Sohar - St. Anthony’s Church
See also
References
- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia
- Vicariate Apostolic of Arabia Archived 2006-08-25 at the Wayback Machine, url accessed September 10, 2006
- "Bishop chancery". Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- Arabia (Vicariate Apostolic) [Catholic-Hierarchy]