MARIANNHILL, DIOCESE OF. - Territory located on the southern coast of Natal, washed by the Indian Ocean. In 1882, Abbot Pfanner of the Trappists began its evangelization, and after the establishment of the Marianhill Missionaries, the territory was detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Natal (now the Diocese of Durban) on 10 September 1921 to form the Apostolic Vicariate of Marianhill, entrusted to the missionaries of that name. When the northern area was detached on 8 April 1935 to form the Apostolic Prefecture of Monte Currie (later the Apostolic Vicariate of Kokstad on 11 July 1939 and the Diocese of Kokstad on 11 January 1951), on the same date the Apostolic Vicariate of Marianhill also became a diocese. AAS, 43 (1951), p. 259.
It has an area of 17,200 sq. km. and a population of over 525,000, of whom 117,814 are Catholics, 3,160 catechumens, 200,000 pagans, 5,000 Muslims, 700 Jews, and 200,000 Protestants. There are 66 missionaries, of whom 17 are indigenous, assisted by 88 brothers and 364 sisters, many of them nationals. There are 96 catechists, 620 teachers, 17 primary stations, 2 secondary stations, 41 churches, and 97 chapels.
In the minor seminary, 115 students are enrolled, and in the major seminary, 14, who also belong to other missions. There are 4 hospitals, 22 dispensaries, 3 orphanages, and 2 printing presses. There are various associations. There are 174 elementary schools with 17,150 pupils, 36 middle schools with 1,698 pupils, 8 high schools with 856 pupils, and 1 teacher training school with 600 pupils.