BHAMO, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - It was erected in 1938 from territory detached from the vicariate of northern Burma (whose name was on that occasion changed to Mandalay). It is entrusted to the (Irish) missionaries of the Society of St. Columban for the Chinese missions. It has an area of approximately 100,000 sq. km. and an estimated population of 600,000 to 700,000 souls. The northernmost part is inhabited by tribes still savage and uncontrolled, among whom human sacrifices are still practised and for whom reliable statistics cannot be obtained. The southern part comprises the civil districts of B., Mytkyna, and Kama (with the exception of the district of Mogok), with an area of 58,176 sq. km. and 718,615 inhabitants (Burmese and Shan, of Buddhist religion, and Kachin, animists). There are approximately 16,000 Protestants; Catholics, almost all of kachin stock, number approximately 3,802, and catechumens 4,206.
The prefecture has 10 missionary residences with as many small wooden churches, and 33 priests. There are 16 sisters, who attend to the various orphanages and schools. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries some missionaries passed through it on their way to Tibet.