Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - Pope Benedict XVI on 26 November 2005 appointed Bishop of
Farafangana Madagascar Rev. Fr. Benjamin Marc Ramaroson C:M., provincial Superior of the Lazzarist Fathers in Madagascar. The new Bishop was born on 25 April 1955 at Manakara in the diocese of Farafangana. He attended local schools and after two years at Antananarivo University joined the Congregation of the Mission Lazzarist Fathers making his profession on 15 October 1980. He was ordained a priest on 15 August 1984. Since then he has been: parish priest at the cathedral (1984-1986); student at the Pontifical Gregorian University (1986-1990) for a doctorate in spiritual theology; Superior of the Lazzarist Scholsticate in Fianarantsoa and Professor of moral theology (1990-2000); Director of the Lazzarist Novitiate (2000-2001); provincial Superior of the Lazzarists in Madagascar (dal 2001).
Farafangana diocese, created in 1957, has an area of 20,392sq km and a population of 900,000 about 75% Animist and 8% Catholic (70,000). There are also 60,000 Lutheran and Reformed Church Christians. The diocese has 24 parishes and 260 places of worship, 36 priests, (21 Lazzarists, 4 Jesuits 8 diocesan,3 fidei donum), 7 Brothers, 96 women religious, 267 catechists, there are 5 major seminarians and 13 minors. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2005; Righe 17; Parole 224)
