New Bishop for Kiribati. The Church Heritage of Kiribati.
Cathedral Tarasa Atoll
Kiribati. Bishop Paul Mea MSC resigns. Monsignor Koru Tito appointed as the new Bishop.
Bishopo Paul Mea MSC, Nauru stamp, Christmas 1982
Archbishop-elect of Rabaul, Rochus Tatamai MSC, writes:
Congratulations to Bishop Paul Mea MSC (Eusebius Kaiuea) for having completed the race to the finish holding on to the fort at Kiribati and Nauru. Thankfully to God for keeping you strong with good health and grace to hold on for so many years as the Local Ordinary and Chief Shepherd of your people in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Our congratulations go to Rev Msgr Koru Tito for your appointment as the new Bishop of Tarawa and Nauru. Be assured of our prayers and kind support.
Resignation of bishop of Tarawa and Nauru, Kiribati and Nauru, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Tarawa and Nauru, Kiribati and Nauru, presented by Bishop Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea, M.S.C.
At the same time the Pope appointed as bishop of the diocese of Tarawa and Nauru, Kiribati and Nauru, the Reverend Msgr. Koru Tito, of the same clergy, currently vicar general of the same see.
Reverend Msgr. Koru Tito
The Reverend Msgr. Koru Tito was born on 30 September 1960 in Tabiteuea, in Kiribati, in the diocese of Tarawa and Nauru. He obtained a diploma in education for the University of the South Pacific in Fiji (1977-1979), and completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Pacific Regional Seminary of Fiji (1981-1985). For a year he attended Saint Paul’s National Seminary, Kensington, Australia (1990-1991). He holds a doctorate in theology with a specialisation in spirituality from the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University in Rome.
He was ordained a priest on 20 June 1987 for the diocese of Tarawa and Nauru.
After ordination he held the following offices: parish priest in the Beru, Nikumanu and Onotoa Islands (1987-1989); assistant in Saint Andrew’s parish in South Clayton, Victoria, Australia (1990-1991); and parish priest in the Kuria, Aranuka and Abemanna Islands (1991-1993). From 1993 to 200 he carried out his studies for a licentiate and doctorate in theology, with specialisation in spirituality at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University, Rome. He then served as lecturer at the Pacific Regional Seminary (2001-2008); collaborator in the parish cathedral of Tarawa and Nauru (2008-2010), and vicar general of the diocese of Tarawa and Nauru. His sister is Sister Kateia OLSH.
Previous Bishops
Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea (born 16 December 1939) has been the Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru since 1978. Kaiuea was born in Kiribati and was ordained a priest in 1969. In 1978 he succeeded French-born Pierre-Auguste-Antoine-Marie Guichet as the bishop of the diocese when it encompassed all of Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu. In 1982, Tuvalu was removed from the jurisdiction of the diocese.
- Joseph-Marie Leray, MSC (27 July 1897 – 1926)
- Joseph Bach, MSC (26 January 1927 – 27 December 1933)
- Octave-Marie Terrienne, MSC (2 December 1937 – 28 February 1961)
- Pierre-Auguste-Antoine-Marie Guichet, MSC (19 July 1961 – 15 November 1978)
- Paul Eusebius Mea Kaiuea, MSC (15 November 1978 – 29 June 2020)
- Koru Tito (29 June 2020 – present)
