Gilbertese catechists trained in Tahiti and established Catholicism on Nonouti in the early 1880s. In 1886 the Gilbert Islands were allocated to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) Vicariate of Melanesia and Micronesia, which also covered Papua and New Britain. The first MSCs, Fr Bontemps, Fr Joseph Leray and Br Conrad Weber, arrived in Nonouti in 1888, and succeeded in establishing the Catholic mission in a number of Gilbert Islands in some cases against Protestant opposition. In 1897, a Vicariate Apostolic of the Gilbert Islands was established, comprised of the Gilberts, the Ellice Islands, Nauru and Ocean Island. In 1903 the Catholic headquarters moved from Nonouti to Butaritari.
The Vicars Apostolic were: 1890-1897, Monsignor Couppé MSC, Vicar Apostolic of New Britain; 1898-1927, Monsignor Joseph Leray MSC; 1927-1933, Monsignor Joseph Bach MSC; 1938-1961, Monsignor Octave Terrienne MSC; 1961-1966, Monsignor Pierre Guichet MSC; 1966, Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru was established; 1966-1979, Monsignor Guichet continued as Bishop of the Diocese; 1979- Bishop Paul Mea MSC.
From the description of Archives of the Catholic Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru, 1886-1986 [microform]. [1886-1986] (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 655789556
