LULUA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — It is situated in the southern part of the Belgian Congo and is entrusted to the Friars Minor (Belgian province of St. Joseph, with Flemish fathers).
It was erected as an apostolic prefecture under the name of L.-Central Katanga on 18 July 1922, with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Upper Kassai (now Lulubourg) and from the apostolic prefecture of Katanga (v.), and was elevated to an apostolic vicariate on 26 February 1934; after ceding a portion of territory on 8 July 1948 for the creation of the apostolic prefecture of Lake Moero, it changed its name to that of Lulua.
It has an area of 90,000 sq. km., with a population of 300,000, of whom 35,322 are Catholics. It has 451 churches and chapels, served by 2 diocesan priests and 51 religious, assisted by 12 male and 10 female religious communities; a minor seminary, 602 schools (including vocational and 2 normal schools), 31 charitable and welfare institutions (among which 9 hospitals, 1 leper asylum, 1 orphanage, and 1 hospice); and a printing press. The associations of Catholic Action are flourishing.