Christianism was introduced in Norway briefly after the foundation of the
Kingdom, in the course of the 10th century and a regular hierarchy was set up
soon afterwards.
In 1537 Lutheranism was imposed by the Danish kings and Roman Catholicism was
forbidden.
In 1781 Norway became part of the newly established Apostlic Prefecture of
Sweden
New mission work resulted in the establishment of a Catholic parish at Oslo
in 1844 and as mission work also had some results in other regions, Norway
was soon separated from Sweden.
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OSLO*
In 1855 the Northern part of Norway was detached from Sweden and became the
Apostolic Prefecture of the Arctic Pole. (1)
Some years later, in 1868, the remaining part of Norway was also detached
from Sweden and became the independent Mission Norway.
In 1869 the Norwegian Mission and the Norwegian part of the Arctic Pole were
united into the new Apostolic Prefecture Norway which became an Apostolic
Vicariate in 1892. (2)
In 1931 the Apostolic Vicariate was divided into three parts, the southern
part being renamed Oslo.
(1) The Apostolic Prefecture of the Arctic Pole also included :
- the arctic regions of Canada
- Greenland
- Iceland
- the Orkneys and Shetlands (added in 1860)
(2) It was named Norway and Spitzbergen from 1913 to 1925.
Prefects Apostolic
1869 - 1887 Bernard Bernard 1821 -
1887 - 1892 Johannes Olaf Fallize 1844 -
Vicars Apostolic
1892 - 1922 Johannes Olaf Fallize, Titular Bishop of
Elusa in Palaestina III s.a.
1922 - 1928 Johannes Olav Smit, Titular Bishop of
Paralus in Aegyptus II 1883 -
1928 - 1930 none
1930 Olaf Offerdahl, Titular Bishop of Selja in
... 1857 - 1930
1930 - 1932 none
1932 - 1953 Jacob Mangers, Titular Bishop of Selja in
..., continued as Bishop of Oslo until 1964 1889 -
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CENTRAL NORWAY*
In 1931 the central part of Norway, with the city of Trondheim as centre,
was detached from the Apostolic Vicariate and was organised as an independent
mission, which became an Apostolic Prefecture in 1935.
Superior of the Mission
1932 - 1935 Cyprian Witte 1890 -
Prefect Apostolic
1935 - 1945 Cyprian Witte s.a.
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NORTHERN NORWAY*
In 1931 the northern part of Norway, with the city of Tromsų as centre,
was detached from the Apostolic Vicariate and was organised as an independent
mission, which became an Apostolic Prefecture in 1944. (3)
(3) Northern Norway also included the Norwegian dependencies of
Jan Mayen and Svalbard. There was however no Catholic presence
on these islands.
Superiors of the Mission
1932 - 1939 Johannes Starke 1893 -
1939 - 1944 Johannes Wember 1900 -
Prefect Apostolic
1944 - 1955 Johannes Wember, continued as Vicar Apostolic
until 1976 s.a.
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