JABALPUR (JUBBULPORE), APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF
Erected on 18 July 1932 with territory taken from the dioceses of Nagpur and Allahabad under the name of Jubbulpore. It is situated in central India and is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Madras. It comprises the civil districts of J., Mandla, Saugor, the subdivisions of Narsinghpur (part of the district of Hoshangabad) and of Seoni (part of the district of Chhindwara), and the former native States of Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The region, partly hilly and partly covered by jungle, has a continental climate.
It is entrusted to the Order of the Premonstratensians, who send thither the Fathers of Berne Abbey in Holland. It is bounded on the north by the diocese of Allahabad, on the east by that of Ranchi, on the south by the diocese of Nagpur, and on the west by that of Indore. By decree of 27 Oct. 1950 the name was changed to J.
It has an area of 112,550 sq. km. and a population of about 7,000,000 inhabitants, divided as follows: 6,500,000 pagans, 200,000 Muslims, 7,500 Protestants, 6,000 Catholics. One-tenth of the entire population is aboriginal.
There are at work 26 Premonstratensian Fathers and 4 lay brothers, all foreigners; 3 Indian priests and about seventy sisters from various religious institutes, 42 catechists. The principal stations with resident priests number 15, the secondary stations 62; there are 6 churches and 13 chapels. Elementary schools: 36, with 3,000 boys and girls; middle schools: 8, with nearly 600 pupils; higher schools: 5, with 233 young people; 1 vocational school with 20 girls. The teachers number 130 in all. Charitable works include 11 dispensaries with about 40,000 consultations annually, 6 orphanages with 305 orphans, and hospitals. In recent years Catholic Action associations and more solidary groups have arisen. There is no seminary: some young men prepare for the priesthood at the Seminary of Ranchi.