JOHANNESBURG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - The territory is part of the Union of South Africa and by decree of 4 June 1886 it was erected into an apostolic prefecture, being detached from the apostolic vicariate of Natal. On 16 Sept. 1904 it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate with the title of Transvaal.

By decree of 22 Dec. 1910 the northern zone was detached from the apostolic vicariate of Transvaal to form the apostolic prefecture of Northern Transvaal, now the abbey nullius of Pietersburg, and by another decree of 12 June 1923 another territory was detached to form the apostolic prefecture of Lydenburg, now a vicariate; by decree of 30 March 1930 the districts of Marico and Rustenburg were assigned to the apostolic vicariate of Kimberley. By decree of 9 Apr. 1948 Propaganda divided it in order to erect the apostolic vicariate of Pretoria, and the remaining territory took the name of apostolic vicariate of J.

The first Mass was celebrated in 1864 near Potchefstroom, but the priest, who had come from the Orange River Free State, was driven out.

Many of the natives work in the mines or are employed in domestic service, which makes the apostolate among them very difficult. The large concentrations of population, because of the gold and diamond mines, impose social problems that are not easy to solve.

The area of the territory is about 32,185 sq. km., with a population of 2,024,888, of whom only 700,418 are Europeans. Catholics number 71,304 and catechumens 2,745. The others are Protestants or pagans. The mission is entrusted to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who number 88, assisted by 9 other diocesan priests. There are 47 brothers, 640 sisters, 149 catechists, 337 teachers. Districts 4, quasi-parishes 31, primary stations 25, secondary stations 25, churches 19, chapels 51, hospitals 2, dispensaries 2, orphanages 1. Other works of charity and associations of Catholic Action are in full development. In the various schools 24,811 children are educated. Two periodicals are published there, with 4,700 copies.

Bibliography6 works

BIBL.: AAS, 22 (1930), p. 485; 40 (1948), p. 183; Archivio di Propaganda Fide, Prospectus status missionis, pos. prot. n. 4271/50; The Catholic Directory of South Africa, Cape Town 1950, pp. 239-80; MC, 1950, pp. 171-72;

Saverio Paventi

@incollection{ec7_johannesburg_vicariato_apostol, author = {Paventi, Saverio}, title = {Johannesburg, vicariato apostolico di}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {VII}, pages = {585--586}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1951}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/johannesburg-vicariato-apostolico-di} }

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Johannesburg, Apostolic Vicariate of

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