MATADI, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — It is situated in the Belgian Congo, not far from the mouths of the Congo River. As early as 1649, Capuchin missionaries traversed the region of M., among whom especially Fr. Giorgio (in the world Adriano Willems), of Belgian origin. During his third journey through that territory, he was killed by unbelievers and also by Christians who had returned to idolatry. The memory of this primitive evangelization was subsequently lost with time, although traces of it still remain today.
In 1891, Msgr. Stillemans, bishop of Ghent, sent several secular priests to M. as chaplains for the workers engaged in constructing the M.–Léopoldville railway. They settled in the city of M., which then belonged to the Apostolic Vicariate of the Independent or Belgian Congo (v. LÉOPOLDVILLE), entrusted to the Fathers of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionaries of Scheut). In 1899, when the aforementioned secular priests returned to Ghent, they were replaced by the Redemptorists, who, led by the religious superior Fr. Simpelaere, whom one may consider the founder of the mission, undertook the evangelization of the region of the “cataracts” under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicariate of the Independent or Belgian Congo. In 1910, the latter also entrusted them with the triangle of territory between the Imkisi River, the railway, and the left bank of the Congo River (Nsona Mbata mission station). By decree of 31 May 1911, the territory was erected as an apostolic prefecture and entrusted to the Redemptorists; on 23 July 1930, it was raised to an apostolic vicariate.
The mission underwent several boundary changes with the neighboring missions before its elevation to a vicariate. The present extent of the Vicariate of M. is approximately 35,000 sq. km.; the principal centers are M. and Thysville.
The indigenous people (Bakongo) have the idea of a single God, whose supreme dominion they recognize, although they do not render him any specific worship.
They do not worship fetishes, but attribute occult powers to them, as well as to amulets. They therefore believe in magic and practice it; nevertheless, they recognize a moral law forbidding adultery, murder, and theft. Society is governed by a matriarchate, and polygamy, a scourge not only among pagans but also among Christians, is becoming less widespread.
When the Redemptorists began their work of evangelization, there were scarcely 70 Catholics. There are now more than 133,000, in a population estimated at approximately 263,000 inhabitants. There are approximately 10,400 catechumens; 19 principal and 37 secondary mission stations; 62 priests, of whom 10 are indigenous; 89 sisters, of whom 13 are indigenous; and 95 seminarians, of whom 13 are major seminarians, 68 minor seminarians, and 14 belong to the preparatory seminary. There is an impressive network of schools (512, of which 503 are elementary), charitable institutions (15 hospitals, 17 dispensaries, 5 orphanages, and 2 leprosariums), and Catholic Action associations. Three printing presses publish 4 bulletins, with a total circulation of 2,400 copies.