Prefecture Apostolic of Miyazaki

MIYAZAKI, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. – Situated in the eastern part of the island of Kyushu (southern Japan), it comprises the two civil provinces of M. and Oita. This ecclesiastical district was first established as a mission sui iuris (27 March 1928) and was subsequently elevated to an apostolic prefecture on 28 January 1935, being entrusted to the Salesian Society of s. Giovanni Bosco. On 15 February 1946 it was transferred to the Japanese secular clergy, although the Salesians continued to offer their services as auxiliaries. Some Fathers of the Parma Foreign Missions have recently joined them; the former are limited to carrying out their apostolate in the civil province of M., and the latter in the province of Oita, by virtue of an agreement concluded between the bishop of Fukuoka, apostolic administrator of M., and the respective missionary societies.

This mission has an area of 16,072 sq. km. and a population of 2,298,172 inhabitants (1948 census), of whom only 2,960 are Catholics, with 407 catechumens. All the others are Buddhists or Shintoists. Most of the inhabitants are engaged in agriculture and fishing; only a minority work in industry.

The evangelization of this region dates back to s. Francesco Saverio. In 1551 he was received at Funai (now Oita) by the daimyō Otomo Sorin, who subsequently became a Christian under the name of Francesco. In 1588 the episcopal see of Funai was erected

Japan, entrusted to the Jesuits. After the long period of persecution, in the first half of the 19th century the Fathers of the Society of the [Foreign Missions of Paris] undertook their work in this mission. In 1923 the Salesians arrived there. There are 23 priests, of whom 2 are Japanese and 3 Italian; 33 Japanese nuns and 5 teachers; 8 quasi-parishes; 1 primary and 4 secondary stations; 18 sacred buildings; 5 orphanages; 3 shelters; 2 elementary schools; 2 middle schools; one high school.