MERAUKE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - Located in the southern part of Dutch New Guinea; erected on 25 June 1950 by dismemberment of the apostolic vicariate of Amboina, formerly the apostolic vicariate of Dutch New Guinea, and entrusted to the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Its area extends over approximately 130,000 sq km, with a population of approximately 100,000 inhabitants, mostly Melanesians. The mission began as early as 1905. After many difficulties due to the dreadful customs of the region, not excluding headhunting, only in 1921 could the Baptism of adults be administered. After 1930 the Catholic religion succeeded in penetrating among the tribes as far as the slopes of the mountains. In this region there is a Protestant mission established as early as 1930.
There are approximately 20 Catholic schools. Islam has not taken root in the country, so evangelization seems to be rather easy. The number of Catholics reaches the figure of 23,382. There are 18 missionaries; 118 catechists; 14 residential stations; 65 sacred buildings; 3 boys' boarding schools and 3 girls'. The only city of any importance is M. on the sea, seat of the Ordinary. Msgr. Herman Tillemans, a Dutchman, the first apostolic vicar of M., has taken part in several expeditions for the discovery of unknown tribes, a true pioneer of charity and humanity.
Bibliography2 worksMC, 1950, p. 439; Archivio della S. Congregazione de Propaganda Fide, pos. prot. n. 2218/50.
BIBL.: MC, 1950, p. 439; Archivio della S. Congregazione de Propaganda Fide, pos. prot. n. 2218/50.
Pecoraio, Edoardo. “Merauke, vicariato apostolico di.” In Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VIII, col. 706. Città del Vaticano: Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1952. https://azioneromana.com/article/merauke-vicariato-apostolico-di.
MLA
Pecoraio, Edoardo. “Merauke, vicariato apostolico di.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. VIII, Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico, 1952, col. 706. Azione Romana, https://azioneromana.com/article/merauke-vicariato-apostolico-di.
BibTeX
@incollection{ec8_merauke_vicariato_apostolico_d,
author = {Pecoraio, Edoardo},
title = {Merauke, vicariato apostolico di},
booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica},
volume = {VIII},
pages = {706},
note = {Cited by column},
publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico},
address = {Città del Vaticano},
year = {1952},
url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/merauke-vicariato-apostolico-di}
}
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