Kongolo, Vicariate Apostolic of

KONGOLO, VICARIATE APOSTOLIC OF.- It is located in the central-eastern part of the Belgian Congo and is entrusted to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. It was erected on 30 June 1911 with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Upper Kassai (now Luluabourg, v.) under the name of Northern Katanga, which on 8 March 1951 was changed to that of K.

It has an area of about 120,000 sq km and, according to the statistical data of 1949, a population of about 250,000 inhabitants. It counts 42,653 indigenous Catholics, 389 foreign Catholics, 72 of mixed race, 13,360 catechumens, 30 dissidents of the Eastern rite, about 15,500 Protestants, some ten Jews, 1,717 Muslims, about 173,000 pagans; 1 indigenous priest, 42 foreign priests and 4 scholastics, 11 foreign lay brothers, 16 indigenous sisters, 32 foreign sisters, 5 major seminarians who are educated in the regional Seminary of Baudouinville (v.), a minor seminary with 28 pupils, 438 catechists, 38 female catechists, 380 masters, 32 mistresses; 11 districts and 362 secondary mission stations; 12 churches and 304 chapels; 4 hospitals with 287 beds; 9 dispensaries with 280,415 consultations a year; 2 orphanages with 76 orphans of both sexes; 3 homes for the aged with 21 inmates; 4 maternity wards with 989 births and 45,450 consultations in the year; 413 schools with 15,354 pupils of both sexes. Baptisms of adults 719, of children 905, in articulo mortis 626, communions 412,933, marriages between the faithful 234. There are 6 associations of Catholic Action.

Carlo Corvo