MALANG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — In the far eastern part of Java (Indonesia), it comprises three civil districts: Pasuruan, Bosuki, and the adjacent island of Madura.
On 12 December 1922, the evangelization of this territory, de facto detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia, was entrusted to the Carmelite Fathers of the Ancient Observance, who, in accordance with the practice of Propaganda, were to work under the jurisdiction of the Ordinary of Batavia until the territory itself had attained suitable development. Once this had been achieved, on 27 April 1927 it was also detached de iure from the Vicariate of Batavia (today Djakarta) and erected as an apostolic prefecture, while remaining entrusted to the aforementioned Carmelite Fathers. On 15 March 1939, it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate.
Islam constitutes a major obstacle to the expansion of the Christian religion. Mohammedan schools are found everywhere. Protestant pastors settled in the district of Pasuruan some time ago, but the number of their adherents is almost negligible; these, especially when indigenous, show themselves indifferent in matters of religion.
The vicariate has an area of 24,409 sq. km. and 8,625,000 inhabitants, concentrated predominantly in the so-called dessa (larger or smaller villages), where there are innumerable and extensive plantations of tobacco, rice, coffee, rubber, and sugar cane. There are several important refineries for the latter product. The population has a somewhat unstable domicile, since it continually migrates from one dessa to another,
according to circumstances and employment opportunities. The number of Catholics is 4,976, served by 23 priests with 29 churches, 11 of them parishes, assisted by 2 male and 10 female religious communities. It has 97 schools and 5 charitable and welfare institutions.