BANKA AND BILLITON, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - Methodical evangelization began in 1912, when the islands of B. and B. (Dutch East Indies), together with almost the entire Riouw archipelago, were incorporated into the apostolic prefecture of Sumatra, from which that of B. and B. was later detached on 27 Dec. 1923. In 1824 the Picpusian missionaries arrived there.

The area of the territory, comprising the aforementioned islands and archipelago with its surroundings, is 26,933 sq. km.; the total population is about 456,500 inhabitants, of whom 1,959 are Catholics and 95 catechumens; about 1,500 Protestants, about 275,000 Muslims (Malays), about 180,000 pagans. In the six primary and five secondary stations, there are 17 priests with 11 brothers and 14 sisters. There are 4 elementary schools with 1,124 pupils. The new political situation creates no small difficulties for the apostolate, especially in the field of schooling.

Bibliography4 works

BIBL.: AAS, 16 (1924), pp. 83-84; Guida delle Missioni Cattoliche, Rome 1935, p. 335; De Katholieke Missie in Nederlands-Indië, Jaarboek 1939, pp. 243-51; Arch. di Prop. Fide, Prospectus Status Missionis, pos. n. prot. 4356/48, pp. 36-37.

Giuseppe Monticone

@incollection{ec2_banka_e_billiton_prefettura_ap, author = {Monticone, Giuseppe}, title = {Banka e Billiton, prefettura apostolica di}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {II}, pages = {789}, 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/banka-e-billiton-prefettura-apostolica-di} }

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Banka and Billiton, Apostolic Prefecture of

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