MALANG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — In the extreme eastern part of Java (Indonesia), it comprises three civil districts: Pasuruan, Besuki, and the adjacent island of Madura.
On 12 December 1922, the evangelization of this territory, de facto dismembered from the Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia, was entrusted to the Carmelite Fathers of the Ancient Observance, who, according to the practice of the Propaganda, were to work under the jurisdiction of the Ordinary of Batavia until the territory itself had reached a suitable development. Once this was achieved, on 27 April 1927, it was also detached de iure from the Vicariate of Batavia (now Djakarta) and erected into an Apostolic Prefecture, 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. There are Muslim schools everywhere. In the district of Pasuruan, Protestant pastors have long since established themselves, but the number of their adherents is almost negligible; these, especially if indigenous, show indifference regarding religion.
The Vicariate has an area of 24,409 sq. km. with 8,625,000 inhabitants, gathered mainly in the so-called *dessa* (more or less large villages), where there are countless and vast plantations of tobacco, rice, coffee, rubber, and sugar cane. There are various and important refineries for the latter product. The population has a rather unstable domicile, as it continuously migrates from one *dessa* to another.
According to circumstances and work opportunities, the number of Catholics is 4,976, served by 23 priests with 29 churches, of which 11 are parishes, assisted by 2 male and 10 female religious communities. It has 97 schools and 5 charitable and welfare institutions.