Gorakhpur, Apostolic Prefecture of

GORAKHPUR, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - It is located in the United Provinces of northern India. It was erected on 11 July 1946, detaching 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 bounds of the prefecture are included the civil district and the city of Benares, washed by the Ganges, the sacred center of Hinduism, the chief seat of Brahmanic doctrine and culture and famous for the richness of its mausoleums.

It measures 33,000 sq. km. in area and has a population of 11,758,000 inhabitants. It is entrusted to the Capuchins. Four fifths of the inhabitants follow Hinduism and the other fifth Islam. The number of Protestants is small, about 4,000; smaller still is that of Catholics, who barely exceed 3,000. Working there are 10 Canadian Capuchins and 3 native ones, 3 secular priests and 9 brothers, about twenty-five sisters, both foreign and native. For some years now a missionary society has arisen in the vicinity of Benares, composed exclusively of Indian elements, having as its purpose the propagation of 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 beginnings and in the process of organization, is (1949) ecclesiastically divided into 6 districts, 3 parishes, 5 primary stations and 5 secondary stations, 4 churches and 6 chapels. Charitable works are represented by 1 hospital with 110 beds, 3 orphanages with 50 orphans, 6 relief 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; 27 male teachers, 4 female teachers.

In some civil districts of the prefecture a movement of conversions is noted among the middle and lower classes, which would give great hope for the future, if there were a greater abundance of means and missionary personnel.

Pompeo Borgna