BETHLEHEM, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - It was erected in 1948 with the western zone of the apostolic vicariate of Kroonstad (South Africa), where the Dutch Dominican fathers had been working since 1932.

The ancient apostolic vicariate of Kroonstad was thus divided into two vicariates: the western part kept the name of Kroonstad and was entrusted to the Dominican fathers, and the eastern part, with the name of B., was left to the fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.

The territory of the apostolic vicariate of B. measures about 34,000 sq. km., with a population of about 255,000 souls, of whom 8,801 are indigenous Catholics, 262 foreign and 85 mixed; catechumens number 2,299. Protestants number about 150,000, Jews about 200, pagans about 80,000. There are 2 quasi-parishes, 9 primary stations, 35 secondary stations, 6 dispensaries, 10 elementary schools with 2,183 pupils. The foreign missionaries number 22, along with 3 indigenous priests, 7 brothers, 17 sisters. Catholic Action and the other pious associations are fairly well developed.

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: AAS, 40 (1948), pp. 360-62; Guida delle Missioni Cattoliche, Rome (1935), pp. 272-73; MC, p. 208; Archivio di Prop. Fide, Prospectus status missioni, posiz. prot. n. 50/9/48.

Saverio Paventi

@incollection{ec2_betlemme_vicariato_apostolico, author = {Paventi, Saverio}, title = {Betlemme, vicariato apostolico di}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {II}, pages = {1524}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1949}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/betlemme-vicariato-apostolico-di} }

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Bethlehem, Apostolic Vicariate of

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