Fengsiang [Fengxiang] (Fongsiang), Diocese of

FENGSIANG [FENGXIANG] (FONGSIANG), DIOCESE OF. - It is located in northern China, in the civil province of Shensi. It was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 16 Nov. 1932, with territory detached from the mission of Sian, and entrusted to the Friars Minor of the regular province of China. On 9 June 1942 it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate and on 11 Apr. 1946, with the establishment

(from J. Braun, Der Christliche Altar, I, Munich 1924, rev. II)

FENESTELLA CONFESSIONIS

Altar with f. c. (6th century). The mensa is modern - Ravenna, Baptistery.

of the episcopal hierarchy in China, a diocese suffragan of Sian. The bishop's residence is in the city of Paoki, which has developed in recent years and has become one of the principal cities of the entire province.

It has an area of 12,000 sq. km. As of 30 June 1948 the total population was about 1,000,000 inhabitants, of whom 8,829 were Catholics and 2,439 catechumens, 1,400 Muslims and 2,300 Protestants: the rest pagans. The missionary personnel numbered, besides the bishop, 40 priests all Chinese, of whom 28 were Franciscan religious. There were furthermore 4 Franciscan lay religious and 14 Franciscan nuns, all Chinese. The auxiliary missionary personnel amounted to 11 catechists, 14 baptizers, 9 doctors and 6 nurses.

Over the territory, divided into 18 districts, were scattered 3 primary and 103 secondary stations, 17 churches and 45 oratories or chapels. Among the works were 1 hospital with 29 beds, 4 dispensaries which in the year 1947-48 had given 53,561 consultations, 1 orphanage with 50 inmates, 3 prayer schools with 94 pupils.

Catholicism, first preached in this region under the emperor Wang-li, of the Ming dynasty, between the years 1625-30, on account of continual persecutions could not establish itself firmly until the beginning of the 20th century. On 28 Oct. 1911, the first year of the Chinese Republic, there occurred here the rebellion known as "of the white heads," which slaughtered 208 faithful, burned more than 30 churches, destroyed and set fire to the houses of the Christians, who, to the number of about 5,000, found help in the charity of a very wealthy pagan named Chang-erl. The subsequent recovery and the new missionary awakening had and have grave difficulties in the Sino-Japanese war first and then in the civil war.

Adamo Pucci