Kweilin [Guilin], Apostolic Prefecture of

KWEILIN [GUILIN], APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - In the north-eastern part of the civil province of Kwangsi (southern China). It was erected on 2 February 1938 by division of the apostolic prefecture of Wuchow and entrusted to the Society for Foreign Missions of the United States of America (of Maryknoll). As an apostolic prefecture it depends directly on the Holy See.

It has an area of 32,380 sq. km. As of 30 June 1949, out of a total population of about 2,500,000 inhabitants, Catholics numbered 7,575 and catechumens 2,000. The priests were 27, of whom 1 was of the Chinese secular clergy; the sisters 6 American and 9 Chinese; the catechists 55. In the regional seminary of Hong Kong 5 students were studying for the mission of K. The territory, with 2 churches and 15 chapels, was divided into 9 quasi-parishes and 71 secondary stations. The pharmaceutical dispensaries were 16; the elementary schools 2 with 175 children, the teacher-training schools 2 with 18 pupils, and those of prayer and first elements 3 with 125 listeners.

The evangelization of the territory began at the beginning of our century through the work of the Fathers of the Foreign Missions of Paris, to whom the entire province of Kwangsi was entrusted. At the moment of its erection, K. counted about 1,000 Christians, of whom 66 had been converted in the last years by the missionaries of Maryknoll.

Adamo Pucci