Ichang [Yichang], Diocese of

ICHANG [YICHANG], Diocese of. - Mission established on 11 Sept. 1870 by division of the apostolic vicariate of Hupeh, in central China (v. HANKOW). It then bore the name of apostolic vicariate of southwestern Hupeh, later changed to that of apostolic vicariate of I. on 3 Dec. 1924. A first division of its territory, on 7 July 1936, gave rise to the apostolic prefecture of Shasi (v.), and with a further division on 14 June 1938 the apostolic vicariate of Shihman (v.) was erected; with the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy in China, on 11 Apr. 1946, the mission of I. was elevated to a diocese, suffragan of Hankow. It has been entrusted, from its origin, to the Order of Friars Minor, which sends there the Fathers of the Belgian regular province of St. Joseph.

Within its present boundaries it has an area of about 30,000 sq km. As of 30 June 1948, out of a total of about 2 million inhabitants, Catholics numbered 15,551 and catechumens 1,046. Besides the bishop, there were 38 Belgian Franciscans and 1 Chinese, and 10 Chinese secular priests. In the preparatory seminary 28 students were studying, in the minor seminary 11, and in the regional seminary of Hankow there were 10 clerics for I., among philosophers and theologians. The auxiliary personnel consisted of 85 sisters, of whom 71 were Chinese, 113 catechists, 145 teachers, 117 baptizers, 7 doctors, of whom 5 were sisters, and 15 nurses. The territory, divided into 8 districts, counted 24 primary stations and 186 secondary ones, 7 churches and 29 chapels. Among the works were 1 hospital with 7 beds, 6 medical dispensaries, 3 orphanages with 212 inmates, 2 homes for the aged with 7 residents. The 27 elementary schools had 2,833 children, the 2 middle schools 381 pupils, and the 29 schools of first elements and of prayer 965 hearers.

The first Christian community, founded in Kingchow by the Jesuit Giacomo Motel (1660-63), gave rise to several others, including those of the mountainous zones, where the Christians took refuge to escape the persecutions of 1724. In 1870, the year of its erection, the mission counted about 3,000 Christians and had in Kingchow the residence of the Ordinary, the small Seminary (both transferred in 1883 to I.) and a girls' orphanage. Notable progress occurred in the twenty years 1891-1911, despite the local persecutions of 1898 and 1904 and the general one of 1900. During the last civil war I. suffered very grave damage and losses of human life among the missionary personnel, so that it was called "the mission of blood."

Adamo Pucci