Mopoi, Apostolic Prefecture of

MOPOI, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - It is located in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, specifically in the province of Equatoria. It is entrusted to the Congregation of the Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (African Missions of Verona). It was erected on 3 March 1949 with portions of territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Bahr el-Ghazal (Zande district) and from the apostolic prefecture of Bahr el-Jebel (Moru district).

It has an area of approximately 78,000 sq km, with a population of approximately 250,000 inhabitants. According to the statistics of 1950, there are: 22,380 Catholics, of whom only 8 are foreigners; 9,900 catechumens; 23 Eastern dissidents; 5,350 Protestants; 110 Muslims; approximately 214,000 pagans; 2 native priests, 13 foreign; 6 foreign lay brothers; 8 foreign sisters; 4 major seminarians, educated at the regional Seminary of Gulu (v.), 18 minor seminarians, educated at the minor Seminaries of Okaru (Bahr el-Jebel) and Bussere (Bahr el-Ghazal); 230 catechists, 14 catechist women; 120 teachers. Principal mission stations 5; secondary 3; churches 2, chapels 35; hospitals 4; dispensaries 4; orphanages 5; one periodical with a circulation of 1,600 copies. Elementary schools 56, vocational 2, normal 2, for catechists 1. Catholic Action is established there.

Carlo Corvo