### Diocese of Kirin
Located in the central-eastern part of Manchuria (China), the Diocese of Kirin covers an area of 176,973 square kilometers and has a population of 9,000,000. It is entrusted to the Paris Foreign Missions Society. Erected as an apostolic vicariate on May 19, 1898, under the name of Northern Manchuria, it received its current name after the districts of Yenki and Ilan were ceded to the apostolic vicariate of Wonsan, now Ham-Heung (Korea). It was elevated to the status of a diocese on April 11, 1946.
The number of Catholics is 35,000, served by 33 native priests and 31 foreign priests; 9 major seminarians; 223 native sisters and 23 foreign sisters; 37 primary stations and 72 secondary stations; 16 churches and 71 chapels; one hospital with 22 beds; 3 orphanages, and 2 homes for the elderly.
The first conversion movement arose in the province of Heilungkiang and spread to the region of Kirin. In 1900, the mission suffered the Boxer persecution, during which one Chinese priest and three missionaries were killed along with numerous faithful.