MOPOI, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - It is situated in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, precisely 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-Gazal (Zande district) and from the apostolic prefecture of Bahr el-Gebel (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 Mohammedans; approximately 214,000 pagans; 2 indigenous priests and 13 foreign priests; 6 foreign lay brothers; 8 foreign nuns; 4 major seminarians, educated Gulu (v.), and 18 minor seminarians, educated at the minor Seminaries of Okaru (Bahr el-Gebel) and Bussere (Bahr el-Gazal); 230 catechists, 14 women catechists; 120 teachers. There are 5 principal mission stations and 3 secondary ones; 2 churches and 35 chapels; 4 hospitals; 4 dispensaries; 5 orphanages; one periodical with a circulation of 1,600 copies. There are 56 elementary schools, 2 vocational schools, 2 teacher-training schools, and 1 school for catechists. Catholic Action has been established there.