DAKAR, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - The evangelization of the coasts of Senegal dates back to the end of the 18th century and suffered the sad interference of the French authorities, who appointed the apostolic prefects and regulated the apostolate as they pleased. A more effective work began in 1852, especially by means of schools. Attempts were made to penetrate slowly into the interior, also in order to halt the advance of Islam.
On 6 February 1863 the territory was erected into the apostolic vicariate of Senegambia and entrusted to the fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, being detached from that of the Two Guineas; from 1873 the apostolic vicar was also apostolic prefect of St. Louis of Senegal (v.). In 1893 the first Synod of West Africa was held, and there were promulgated the ordinances that constituted the official directory of the mission.
(phot. Fides)
After 1902 the mission suffered because of the application of the sectarian laws decreed in France, which brought great advantages to Islam. The mission, amid these and many other difficulties of personnel, material means and climate, kept organizing itself ever better, and in 1924 it was possible to convene at D. the first Council of French West Africa.
From the said vicariate, in 1897 the apostolic prefecture of French Guinea was detached, from 1920 a vicariate (v. KONAKRY; KANKAN); in 1931 the mission of Gambia (v.) was detached, and in 1939 the apostolic prefecture of Ziguinchor. On 27 January 1936 it took the name of D., which in 1947 became the seat of the apostolic delegation for the missions of French Africa.
The area of the territory is about 985,000 sq km, with a population of about 1,680,346 inhabitants, of whom 57,335 are Catholics, 2,463 catechumens, 1,910 Easterners, 648 Protestants, 1,368,545 Muslims and 249,445 pagans. There are 3 districts, 7 quasi-parishes, 8 primary stations and 188 secondary ones. In the 79 schools of various grades about 4,347 pupils are educated. Two periodicals are published there, with a total of 4,100 copies. There work there 40 missionaries, of whom 2 are natives, 13 brothers, and 130 sisters. There is a major and a minor seminary.
Bibliography3 works
Saverio Paventi