GORAKHPUR, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF
It is situated in the United Provinces of northern India. It was erected on 11 July 1946 by separating its territory from the diocese of Allahabad, and is a suffragan of Agra. It borders on the dioceses of Allahabad, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi and the small State of Nepal. Within the territorial scope of the prefecture are included the civil district and the city of Benares, bathed by the Ganges, a sacred centre of Hinduism, principal seat of Brahmin doctrine and culture and renowned for the wealth of its mausoleums.
It covers 33,000 sq km and has a population of 11,758,000 inhabitants. It is entrusted to the Capuchins. Four-fifths of the inhabitants follow Hinduism and the remaining fifth Islam. The number of Protestants is small, about 4,000; even smaller is that of Catholics, which barely exceeds 3,000. There are at work 10 Canadian Capuchins and 3 indigenous ones, 3 secular priests and 9 brothers, about twenty-five sisters, both foreign and indigenous. For some years now there has been established near Benares a missionary society composed exclusively of Indian elements, with the aim of propagating the faith in India through the apostolate of Indian priests. This society is of diocesan right and numbers about thirty scholastics directed and instructed by some secular priests.
The prefecture of G., which is still in its early stages and in the process of organisation, is divided (1949) ecclesiastically into 6 districts, 3 parishes, 5 primary stations and 5 secondary stations, 4 churches and 6 chapels. The charitable works include 1 hospital with 110 beds, 3 orphanages with 50 orphans, 6 aid posts or dispensaries. About fifteen catechists assist the work of the missionaries. The elementary schools have 264 pupils, the middle schools 305, the higher schools 242; there are 27 male teachers and 4 female teachers.
A movement of conversions among the middle and lower classes is noted in some civil districts of the prefecture, which would give great hope for the future if there were a greater abundance of means and missionary personnel.