New primate for the Anglican church in the Indian Ocean is installed

[Anglican Communion News Service]  The Most Rev. Gilbert Rateloson Rakotondravelo was installed as the archbishop and primate of the Province of the Indian Ocean during a Jan. 19 service at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. Rakotondravelo served as bishop of Fianarantsoa before he was elected archbishop on Dec. 14, 2024.

Rakotondravelo said of his new role, “I have a big vision for our church here. We want to unite our three countries — Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar — because we have differences in culture, but we need to work together for the kingdom of God, for evangelism, for mission and in the Anglican Communion.”

He succeeds the Rt. Rev. James Wong, who was archbishop from 2017 to 2024.

The Province of the Indian Ocean covers three countries – Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. It was founded in 1973, combining two bishoprics. The Anglican mission began in Mauritius in 1810, after the capture of the island from the French.

Among those attending the service was the Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo, secretary general of the Anglican Communion. After the service he said, “The Anglican Church in this province has been thriving these past 51 years. It has been very good to be in Madagascar for the second time and to witness firsthand what the church is doing in meeting the needs of the people they serve. I am overjoyed to be present at the enthronement of Archbishop Gilbert. My prayers go with him and his family and the entire province as he takes on the helm.”

Reflecting on his ministry as primate, Wong said, “I am thankful for God’s love, thankful for God’s provision and for everything he has bestowed on my ministry and the people around me… especially the people of God here in Madgascar. God has used a lot of my context, my friends and my ministry… together with… the house of bishops we have been able to ease the burdens of many people.

“My prayer is that the journey will be continued as the people grow with the word of God and share the word of God. One of the last things I have been able to share and to accomplish is to establish a grassroots theological education commission…. the ministry is to give training to evangelists… to the people in the pews, to enable them to be evangelists…to empower them to be on the field and to shine the light of Jesus Christ. So this is also the vision that the new archbishop has shared in our meeting just after the ceremony of installation – he will continue with this journey so as to enable the church in Mauritius, the Seychelles and in Madagascar to be nearer to the grassroots people.”