KONGOLO, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO DI

KONGOLO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - It is situated 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 covers an area of approx. 120,000 sq. km. and, according to the 1949 statistical data, has a population of approx. 250,000 inhabitants. It has 42,653 indigenous Catholics, 389 foreign Catholics, 72 of mixed race, 13,360 catechumens, 30 dissidents of Eastern rite, approx. 15,500 Protestants, about a dozen Jews, 1,717 Muslims, approx. 173,000 pagans; 1 indigenous priest, 42 foreign priests and 4 clerical students, 11 foreign lay brothers, 16 indigenous sisters, 32 foreign sisters, 5 major seminarians who are educated at the regional seminary of Baudouinville (v.), a minor seminary with 28 pupils, 438 male catechists, 38 female catechists, 380 teachers, 32 women teachers; 11 districts and 362 secondary mission stations; 12 churches and 304 chapels; 4 hospitals with 287 beds; 9 dispensaries with 280,415 consultations per year; 2 orphanages with 76 orphans of both sexes; 3 homes for the elderly with 21 residents; 4 maternity hospitals with 980 births and 45,450 consultations in the year; 413 schools with 15,354 pupils of both sexes. Adult baptisms 719, infant baptisms 905, *in articulo mortis* baptisms 626, communions 412,933, marriages between the faithful 234. There are 6 associations of Catholic Action.