BULAWAYO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - The city of B., at about 1,362 m. on the plateau, is situated along the route of the great railway from the Cape to the Congo, in a region with a healthy climate. It has 30,000 inhabitants, of whom more than 12,000 are Europeans. The mission of B. was established in 1931, Salisbury (v.), entrusted to the care of the Mariannhill Missionaries, who had already been working in the region for several years. It was later elevated to a prefecture in 1932 and to an apostolic vicariate in 1937.
The vicariate comprises the southwestern region of Southern Rhodesia, as well as a large part of the Bechuanaland Protectorate: its area is 367,208 sq. km. with a population of about 362,000 souls, which makes the missionary's task difficult due to the great distances to be covered.
Alongside and in support of direct evangelization, the fathers, who are particularly well-equipped, place great emphasis on cultural, social, and economic activities. In 1934, the first Carmelite nuns (English) were welcomed with great festivities; they founded a cloister, which soon attracted indigenous vocations. The Dominican Sisters (50 already in 1935) dedicate themselves to the schools for the European element. However, the progress of the mission is slow; in 1935, there were 4,854 Catholics, including 1,200 Europeans. In 1938, the governor of Southern Rhodesia visited the mission, expressing satisfaction with the work accomplished both in the schools and in the hospitals. According to the latest statistics from 1948, there are 12,115 Catholics, 1,616 catechumens, served by 13 priests and 7 brothers, assisted by 101 sisters from three different congregations. There are 9 primary stations, 91 secondary stations; 105 elementary schools with 4,379 pupils, 56 middle schools with 2,260 pupils, 17 high schools with 601 pupils, 2 vocational schools with 67 pupils, and 1 normal school with 60 pupils. Various publications with very limited circulation are issued there.