KENG-TUNG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - In southern Burma, in the federated Shan States, and it comprises the States of K., of Tawnpeng, of southern and northern Hsenwi, and the part of the State of Manglon that lies on the right bank of the Salween River.
It has an area of 120,000 sq km, heavily mountainous, with a temperate climate in the highlands and a hot and malarial one in the valleys. The population consists of the Shan (Tai), a Sino-Siamese stock, who immigrated from the north (Tibet) and from the northeast (China) and form the ruling class, and of various subject races, among which the principal ones are the Musho, the Ikò, the Kachin and the Wa.
The territory of the present vicariate was part of the prefecture of southern Burma, later the apostolic vicariate of Toungoo, but the missionaries were able to penetrate it only in 1911-12. The apostolic prefecture of K. was erected there on 12 April 1927, and raised to a vicariate on 26 May 1950. It is entrusted to the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions of Milan. It has over 900,000 inhabitants, divided as follows: 850,000 Buddhists, 5,000 Muslims, 35,000 Protestants, 7,643 Catholics and 5,000 catechumens. Ecclesiastically the vicariate is divided into 12 districts, some primary stations and 145 secondary ones, 8 churches and 145 chapels. Exercising their apostolate there are 22 priests of the aforementioned Institute, 1 native priest, 2 lay brothers, assisted by 21 Sisters of the Reparation of Nazareth, 28 Sisters of Charity of the Child Mary and 16 sisters of a native congregation, and by about thirty catechists, men and women. Instruction is given in 28 elementary schools with 1,875 pupils, 5 middle schools with 274 pupils, 2 middle schools and 4 vocational schools with about a hundred students. The prayer schools are quite well attended. The works of charity are represented by 2 hospitals with 105 beds, 21 orphanages with 555 orphans, 6 almshouses with 50 elderly people, 1 leprosarium with 680 patients, 17 dispensaries with an annual average of 110,000 consultations. There is a minor seminary and a preparatory school, 15 confraternities and several associations of Catholic Action. The Japanese occupation of Burma (1941-46) and the disturbances of recent years have considerably hindered missionary apostolate.
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Pompeo Borgna