Kiamusze [Jiamusi] (Chiamussu), Apostolic Prefecture of

KIAMUSZE [JIAMUSI] (Chiamussu), Apostolic Prefecture of. - The civil prefectures of Yenki and Ilan, which until 19 March 1922 formed part of the apostolic vicariate of Northern Manchuria (v. KIRIN), were on that date detached from the said mission and annexed to the apostolic vicariate of Wonsan in Korea; on 9 July 1928, the civil prefecture of Ilan was also separated from Wonsan and, erected as a mission sui juris, on 13 Apr. 1937 it took the name of K. and on 9 Apr. 1940 it was elevated to an apostolic prefecture.

It was entrusted, like the mother mission of Wonsan, to the Benedictine Congregation of St. Ottilien for the foreign missions, but, kept under the administration of the apostolic vicariate of Wonsan from its foundation until 15 Feb. 1934, on that date it was ceded to the Capuchins, who send there for missionary work the religious of the province of Tirol. As an apostolic prefecture it depends directly on the Holy See.

It has an area of 93,000 sq. km. As of 30 June 1947, out of a population of about 1,300,000 inhabitants, Catholics numbered 3,200; there were 10 Capuchins and 1 lay brother.

The population of K., which in 1928 was barely 500,000 inhabitants and counted about 1,500 Catholics, has rapidly increased through immigration, especially from Hopeh and Shantung. The hopes of a consoling spread of Christianity have been dashed in recent years by the communist occupation; there have been victims among the missionaries, some of them have had to leave the mission, the others have been prevented from working.

Adamo Pucci