KEETMANSHOOP, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - The territory of this vicariate was part of German South-West Africa, which after the First World War (17 Dec. 1920) was given as a mandate to the Union of South Africa. In 1888 Propaganda entrusted it to the care of the apostolic vicariate of Orange River, now Keimoes. In 1898 the first mission was erected at Heirachabis, followed by those of Warmbad (1906) and Gabis (1907). On 7 July 1909 the territory was detached from the apostolic vicariate of Orange River and erected into the apostolic prefecture of Great Namaqualand. On 2 June 1913 the boundaries with the apostolic prefecture of Lower Cimbebasia, now the apostolic vicariate of Windhoek, were rectified.
The First World War completely destroyed the work accomplished up to that time, and moreover the opposition of the Protestants allowed the work of the apostolate to be resumed only after 1922. On 14 July 1930 it was elevated to a vicariate, and on 13 Jan. 1949 its name was changed to that of K. The land, because of the scarcity of rainfall, is very poor and has very few means of communication. The indigenous population belongs predominantly to the tribes of the Nama or Hottentots, Bastards, Dama or Damara and Hereros. If they are not Protestants, they do not profess a true religion but only follow superstitious usages and customs. The languages most used are Afrikaans and Nama.
It has an area of 284,102 sq. km. with a population of about 56,000 inhabitants, of whom: Catholics 8,400, catechumens 320, Protestants about 33,000, Jews 300, pagans about 13,000. It is entrusted to the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. The missionaries number 15, the brothers 4, the sisters 61, catechists 16, quasi-parishes 3, primary stations 18, secondary 8, chapels 18. Hospitals 2 with 36 beds, dispensaries 14, orphanages 15 with 30 boys, elementary schools 13 with 762 pupils, secondary schools 10 with 598 pupils. Catholic Action is in the process of development.
Bibliography6 works
Saverio Paventi