Catholic Church in Kiribati

The Christian festivals of Christmas, Easter, and National Gospel Day are official religious holidays.

Invasions by Fijians and Tongans brought Melanesian and Polynesian influence.

A British colony from 1916, and scene of bitter fighting during World War II, Kiribati became an independent nation in 1979.

Joseph Leray was placed at its head and, with other MSC priests, he began missionary work in the islands.

This was split in 1982 into the Mission sui iuris of Funafuti and the Diocese of Tarawa and Nauru.