BRAZZA: V. SLESIA.
BRAZZAVILLE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — The city of B., capital of French Equatorial Africa, on the right bank of the Congo, at the point where the river broadens to form Stanley Pool, has 25,000 inhabitants. It is connected with the Atlantic Ocean by the Congo–Océan railway, which begins at the port of Pointe Noire.
The apostolic vicariate of B., so called since 21 June 1922, is the former vicariate of French Upper Congo (or Ubanghi), created on 14 October 1890, and previously, in part, French Congo (1886). In 1909 its northern region was detached to form the prefecture of Ubanghi (today the apostolic vicariate of Bangui [v.]).
Its first apostolic vicar was the distinguished Msgr. Augouard. For fifteen years it seemed that the work was being carried on in vain; then, as if suddenly, those fierce tribes turned to the Catholic religion. After 40 years there were 40,000 Catholics. At present the mission still encounters serious difficulties: the new indigenous mentality, avid for gain, material well-being, and freedom; the scourge of general polygamy, with the familiar disorders of forced marriages, to curb which a dowry fund has been established and the government has been urged to enact regulations governing marriage; and, finally, Protestantism. Since 1911 the mission has had its minor seminary, to which a major seminary was added in 1947. It has brought into being a Congregation of indigenous brothers (who, among other things, run the carpentry workshop at Linzolo) and one of indigenous sisters; there are two Congregations of European sisters: that of St. Joseph of Cluny, which since 1892 has worked in the stations of the Lower Congo (at B. and Kindaneba), and that of the Franciscan Missionaries, in the Alima region to the north. Girls’ schools, dispensaries, and the formation of Christian wives constitute their activities. The missionaries are actively engaged in linguistic work, producing grammars, dictionaries, catechisms, and other books of Christian instruction.
The population is approximately 400,000 over an area of 200,000 sq. km.; the movement of conversions is encouraging: from 1935 to 1939 there was an average annual increase of 4,000 Catholics. The latest statistics (1948) record 100,752 Catholics assisted by 57 missionaries, 6 of them indigenous; 23 brothers, 6 of them indigenous; 37 sisters, 9 of them indigenous; and 293 catechists. There are approximately 40,000 Protestants and approximately 240,000 pagans. There are 39 elementary schools with 5,890 pupils; 4 secondary schools with 348 pupils; 4 higher schools with 38 pupils; 10 vocational schools with 434 pupils; and 1 normal school with 18 pupils.