About the Diocesan Link

Toamasina

About Madagascar About Toamasina Diocese

Madagascar is the world's fourth biggest island after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo. Because of its isolation most of its mammals, half its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth. It is particularly famous for its lemurs.

The island is heavily exposed to tropical cyclones which bring torrential rains and destructive floods, such as the ones in early 2000 which left thousands homeless.

MADAGASCAR FACTS
Population: 17.4 million (UN, 2003)
Capital: Antananarivo
Major languages: Malagasy (official), French
Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Christianity
Life expectancy: 52 years (men), 55 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: Ariary
Main exports: Coffee, seafood, cloves, vanilla, petroleum products, chromium, fabrics
Average annual income: US $260 (World Bank, 2001)

Information courtesy of BBCi

Diocese of Toamasina

Diocesan President: Marie-Pierrette Bezara
Worker: Madeleine Raveloarisoa

2005 Report:

Marie-Pierrette was elected Diocesan President at the end of 2004. She visited all the deaneries, in some cases travelling by dugout canoe, or walking for 40 km. She has organised training for members in book-keeping, and also in skills such as baking, dressmaking and literacy which will enable them to raise funds for their families and for the work of MU. They support underprivileged children, and set up teaching centres. Members in Toamasina gathered to celebrate Lady Day on 2nd April, meeting for a Eucharist and lighting candles. This was followed by a meal and activities. They also met altogether in August for their Diocesan Council, which was attended by 486 members. In December, money raised by a branch in Coventry Diocese enabled us to send a computer to Toamasina to help them with communication to their members. It arrived just before Christmas.

Florence & Madeleine at the Training Centre

2001 was a very eventful year for Toamasina, with a visit by Christine Eames, the appointment of a new Bishop, aged only 36, and a new worker.

Toamasina suffered from political unrest in 2002. Movement was very restricted for more than six months, and the poverty was acute. But more recently, Florence Nirinarisoa, the then Diocesan President, was able to resume normal MU activities, and some new members have been enrolled.

We do not hear so much news from Toamasina, but at the beginning of 2003, a letter and photo arrived from Florence ... read. The training centre, which the Diocese has been working on for so long, is finally nearing completion. Frequent hurricanes and lack of money and resources have all made this a long project, but their persistence has been rewarded and Florence writes to say that it is nearly ready. The photo shows what looks to us a very fragile building, but it is built with local materials, and can be easily repaired when the need arises. We hope to hear further news of the centre in due course.

In 2005 the branch of St John's, Kenilworth, funded the gift of a computer for the Diocese of Toamasina and in January 2006 our Diocesan President, Felicity Hawke, received an email of thanks from Marie-Pierrette ... read