Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Greetings from Madagascar!

Welcome to our website. I am really extremely privileged to have access to this electronic communication network in a country where most villages are still without electricity and purified water.

I have been the Bishop of Antsiranana in Madagascar since August 17, 2003, and the Lord Jesus Christ has been faithful in all the Mission and Evangelisation work which has taken place here. It is true that "the Lord never fails us nor forsakes us." When I moved here from being archdeacon and rector of St Paul’s Church in Plaine Verte in Mauritius, the tasks of episcopal work awaiting me after a long period of tough episcopal election bouts in Antsiranana was quite a herculean challenge.

Moving into new mission work in one of the poorest countries of the world is quite a bungee jump drop for me, my wife, Alice, and our 11-year-old son, Alexander. Still, through prayer and continued support, the ministry has moved on with Faith, Hope and Love. Yahweh has provided all our needs through friends and official organisations and churches because it is His Divine Mission, "Missio Dei," that is being accomplished to His honour and glory. Alleluia!

The Diocese of Antsiranana has some 25 parishes and 125 congregations spread over the northernmost province of Madagascar. We have nearly five dioceses in the island of Madagascar – Antananarivo, Antsirananana, Toamasina, Fianarantsoa and Mahajanjam, and a sixth – Tulear – is about to be formed. We are part of the Province of the Indian Ocean in the Anglican Communion, which also includes the islands and dioceses of Seychelles and Mauritius.

Antsiranana Diocese saw its first mission church started on August 10, 1889, in Namakia, and the Cathedral of St Laurent in Antananarivo, Ambohimanoro, was inaugurated that same year. Bishop Robert Kestell-Cornish, the first Anglican Bishop of Madagascar, arrived here on October 28, 1874. The first indigenous Bishop of Madagascar was the Rt Rev Jean Marcel, who was consecrated Bishop on June 11, 1956 in Lambeth Palace Chapel.

The Diocese of Antsiranana was formed on January 12, 1969, with the Rt Rev Gabriel Josoa as the first Bishop. The Rt Rev Keith Benzies, a USPG missionary, succeeded him in 1984. So now as the third bishop of Antsiranana Diocese, I continue in the line starting with the SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) missionary, Archdeacon Chiswell, in 1872 and the CMS (Church Missionary Society) missionaries, the Rev Campbell and the Rev Holding a little earlier.

Please pray for us in this tough mission field where taboos called “fady” are still very strong in society. May salvation through Jesus Christ bring new life to the people of God in Madagascar. May all the development, educational and social projects bring new hope to the people.

I will quote in Malagasy, the words of the Bible in 1 Cor 9 :16: “Lozako raha tsy mitory ny vaovao mahafaly aho.” (May the Holy Spirit anoint more and more people to serve on the mission field because as in the days of Jesus Christ, “the harvest is plentiful and the labourers few.”)

May the Words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Blessing to you all in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ

† Roger Antsiranana