KIRIN, DIOCESE of. - Situated in the central-eastern part of Manchuria (China), it has an area of 176,973 sq. km. and a population of 9,000,000 inhabitants. It is entrusted to the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris. Established as an apostolic vicariate on 19 May 1898 under the name of Northern Manchuria, after the cession to the apostolic vicariate of Wonsan, now Ham-Heung (Korea), of the districts of Yenki and Ilan, it received its present name. Its elevation to a diocese took place on 11 Apr. 1946.
The number of Catholics is 35,000, with 33 native and 31 foreign priests; 9 major seminarians; 223 native and 23 foreign sisters; 37 primary and 72 secondary stations; 16 churches and 71 chapels; a hospital with 22 beds; 3 orphanages, 2 homes for the aged.
The first movement of conversion arose in the province of Heilungkiang, whence it spread into the region of K. In 1900 the mission suffered the Boxer persecution, during which, together with numerous faithful, a Chinese priest and three missionaries were killed.