prefect apostolic

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural prefects apostolic.

1. the administrator, usually below the rank of bishop, in charge of a prefecture apostolic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prefect apostolic¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The Abbé Picquet was a doctor of the Sorbonne, and bore the titles of King's Missionary and Prefect Apostolic of Canada.

From Project Gutenberg

When, in 1873, an obscure young Belgian missionary priest named Father Damien begged the Catholic Prefect Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands to send him to a leper colony 50 miles away, the name of Molokai meant nothing to the outside world.

From Time Magazine Archive

Long known as "The Bishop," although until last week he was only Prefect Apostolic, Monsignor Turquetil has not been coarsened by taking fishes' snouts in his mouth or by eating raw meat when fuel was lacking.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 1783 he took a prominent part in the petition to Rome to take the control of the American church away from London; and on Franklin’s recommendation, Carroll was named prefect apostolic, the American church being recognized as a distinct body in a decree issued by Cardinal Antonelli on the 9th of June 1784.

From Project Gutenberg

The Roman Catholic Mission commenced its works in Sarawak in 1881, and is under the direction of the Reverend Father Jackson, Prefect Apostolic, who has also two or three Missionaries employed in British North Borneo.

From Project Gutenberg