Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nouméa (Agenzia Fides) - There are nearly 8 million Catholics living in Oceania. Six million reside in the two most populated regions, Australia and New Zealand, while the rest are dispersed among the thousands of islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The history of the evangelization of these islands in fascinating and New Caledonia, an archipelago in the southeast part of the Pacific Ocean, is one of the oldest communities.
Catholic missionaries arrived there around 1840. At that time, Oceania was divided into three Apostolic Vicariates and New Caledonia has already seen the arrival of several missionaries of the Marist Brothers. It was Pope Gregory XVI in 1836, who entrusted the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Oceania to the Society of Mary, considering the strong French presence in that part of the ocean. After a dispute with Great Britain in 1853, France took possession of the archipelago’s main island, Grande Terre. From then until 1897, the island was used as a penal colony. An estimated 20,000 prisoners are reported to have reached the island in a matter of thirty years. The majority of them decided to remain in the colony, even after having expiated their crime.
On July 23, 1847, the Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle Calédonie was created, a result of the missionary work carried out by the first Marist Brothers, Bishop Douarre, Father Viard and Father Rougeron, and the lay brothers Marmoiton and Taragnat. The missions were established where the Protestants were least active, however with the arrival of the deportees from independent French colonies and workers from the Indo-china region and Java, there was a sudden change in society with the birth of generations of Caucasian “Caldoches” alongside the native population, called “Kanaka.” By the late 1920s, half of the population had been baptized by Catholic missionaries. In addition to the Protestants, there were also minority groups of Buddhists and Muslims.
Following the Second World War, the discovery of nickel reserves in local mines led to an influx of immigrants from nearby French overseas territories (especially from Tahiti and Wallis and Futuna). During these years, the Church ordained its first native priests. In 1967, 120 years later, the Apostolic Vicariate of Nouvelle Calédonie became the Archdiocese of Nouméa, named after the capital city. The 70s and 80s were difficult years, marked by Kanaka revolts against the Caldoches that later came to an end with peace accord until a referendum could be held to decide on the island’s independence.
Today, New Caledonia has a population of 210,000 inhabitants (110,000 Catholics). It also has a large number of Protestants, Evangelicals, and Messianic movements that have arisen, based on traditional religions. There is a large percentage of atheists and agnostics (21% of the population). In such a context, both the first and a second evangelization appear necessary. The most immediate problems being faced by Catholics are the lack of communications among the various island communities and the lack of priests. In spite of this, there is an especially large youth participation in practicing the faith and there is a special emphasis on pilgrimages (as it is an opportunity for communion) and for the Eucharistic devotion that is capable of attracting many faithful. Among the tribes and areas without the stable presence of a priest, Sunday gatherings are often held by the faithful, which are presided by a minister designated by the Church. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of permanent deacons and catechumens. (AM) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2008; righe 47, parole 576)
