DIOCESE OF NIIGATA (Niigata, Yamagata, Akita)

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BISHOP’S RESIDENCE & CHANCERY OFFICE
656, Ichibancho, Higashi-obatadori, Niigata, NIIGATA, 951-8106
Tel.025-222-7457 Fax.222-7467
CATHEDRAL
NIIGATA CHURCH
656, Ichibancho, Higashi-obatadori, Niigata, NIIGATA, 951-8106
Tel.025-222-5024
WEB SITE
http://www.catholic-niigata.net/

Bishop

Most Reverend
Paul Daisuke Narui, S.V.D., Bishop of Niigata

  1. November 24, 1973 Born in Iwakura-shi, Aichi-ken
  2. March 10, 2001 Ordained Priest
  3. May 31, 2020 Appointed Bishop of Niigata
  4. September 22, 2020 Ordained Bishop

Predecessors

  • Msgr. Joseph Reiners, S.V.D. 1912-1926
  • Msgr. Anton Ceska, S.V.D. 1926-1941
  • Msgr. Peter Magoshiro Matsuoka (Serving concurrently Apostolic Prefect of Nagoya) 1941-1953
  • Msgr. John Baptist Tokisuke Noda 1953-1961
  • Most Rev. John Shojiro Ito 1962-1985
  • Most Rev. Francis Keiichi Sato, O.F.M. 1985-2004
  • Most Rev. Tarcisius Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D. 2004-2017

History

The Apostolic Prefecture of Niigata was established on August 13, 1912 and included the three prefectures of Akita, Yamagata and Niigata that had belonged to Hakodate Diocese as well as the three prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui that had belonged to Tokyo Archdiocese. It was entrusted to the German Fathers of the Society of the Divine Word. The first Apostolic Prefect was Msgr. Joseph Reiners S.V.D.
When the Apostolic Prefecture of Nagoya was established on February 18, 1922, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui were incorporated into it. Msgr. Reiners was succeeded by Msgr. Anton Ceska, S.V.D. in 1926. In 1941 Msgr. Ceska resigned and Msgr. Magoshiro Matsuoka, Apostolic Prefect of Nagoya, became the pro-prefect of the Apostolic Prefecture of Niigata as well. In 1945 he became simultaneously prefect of both Apostolic Prefectures. In 1953 Fr. Tokisuke Noda succeeded as Apostolic Prefect of Niigata. In 1959 Msgr. Noda was appointed first Bishop of Hiroshima, but he excused himself because of illness. He died on October 11, 1961 while still Apostolic Prefect of Niigata. On April 16, 1962 Niigata was raised to the status of a diocese and Fr. Shojiro Ito was appointed first Bishop of Niigata. He was consecrated in June of the same year.
Bishop Ito resigned on March 9, 1985 and Fr. Keiichi Sato, O.F.M. was appointed to succeed and was consecrated bishop on June 9 of the same year and served as Bishop of Niigata for 19 years. Bishop Sato resigned and Fr. Isao Kikuchi from the Society of the Divine Word was appointed Bishop of Niigata on May 14, 2004. He was consecrated bishop on September 20, 2004 as Bishop of Niigata.
On October 25, 2017, Bishop Kikuchi was appointed Archbishop of Tokyo and installed on December 16. Bishop of Niigata became vacant as of his installation day, and Abp. Kikuchi was appointed as Apostolic Administrator.
On May 31, 2020, Fr. Daisuke Narui from the Society of the Divine Word was appointed Bishop of Niigata and consecrated on September 22 of the same year.

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