I was there, as a young middle school student, at the mass for his final vows. Out of a sense of filial duty toward the ‘best among us,’ I made sure to attend the mass celebrating 60 years of religious life and 50 years of priesthood for Fulgence Rabeony.
It was in 1966 that the now Archbishop Emeritus, aged 81, entered the Jesuit novitiate. His priestly ordination took place on August 7, 1976, following a long ten-year journey that included stages of philosophy, regency, and theology.
Fulgence Rabeony was appointed bishop on November 18, 1990, shortly after being named head of the Diocese of Toliara, which was elevated to an ecclesiastical province on December 3, 2003, including the suffragan dioceses of Morombe, Morondava, and Tôlagnaro. He served as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Toliara until his retirement on July 22, 2023.
The ceremony served as a pilgrimage back to the places where he received his vestments, the stole, and the chasuble, reflecting on the symbolic imposition of hands and the anointing of his hands with holy chrism before they were deemed worthy to receive the paten and chalice.
While the Archbishop might have preferred the commemorative mass to be held in the main courtyard of the Saint-Michel College—where he was once recognized as the top student of the 1966 class—it is rare to see the college’s beautiful chapel, blessed in 1937, host three bishops officiating simultaneously.
The article also reflects on the evolution of the liturgy, referencing the concept of ‘inculturation’ introduced by Jesuit Superior General Pedro Arrupe in the wake of Vatican II. It touches upon the tension between traditional, solemn liturgy and modern, more expressive forms, questioning the impact of these changes on the faithful.
The piece concludes by honoring other notable alumni of the College, including Ignace Ramarosandratana, the first Malagasy bishop, and Cardinal Armand Gaëtan Razafindratandra, noting that Fulgence Rabeony remains a significant figure in the history of the institution’s episcopal legacy.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-18 06:24:25 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/amdg.html