BETTIAH, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. — Apostolic prefecture erected in 1892, to whose territory the entire kingdom of Nepal was annexed the following year. The mission was entrusted to the Tyrolean Capuchins.
The origin of the missionary station at B. is due to the Capuchin Fr. Giuseppe (Benimi) da Gargnano (v.), who obtained permission to preach from the queen of B., whom he had cared for during a serious illness; he directed that station for fifteen years. The prefecture, which developed little outside the civil district of B., was suppressed in 1919 and incorporated PATENA (v.).
BIBL.: Missions Catholiques cura S. Congreg. de Propaganda Fide descriptae anno 1907, Roma 1907, pp. 194-195; A. Battander, s. V. in The Cath. Encycl., II, pp. 538-539; India and its Missions, New York 1923, pp. 114, 123, 152, 181; Streit, Bibl., VI, p. 137.