MUKDEN, ARCHDIOCESE OF. – Located in the southwestern part of Manchuria, it comprises nine civil prefectures, namely: Si-an, Tungfen, Sifeng, Kaiyuan, Tiehling, M., Simmin, Liaochung, and Liaoyang. The prefecture of M. is the most important, the most populous, if not the most extensive. Before the present state of affairs, this mission underwent many changes. On 14 Aug. 1838, the Apostolic Vicariate of Leaoutong was created by the dismemberment of the Diocese of Peking, with jurisdiction “over all the regions of Tartary, that is, Mongolia and Manchuria, formerly subject to the Bishop of Peking,” and was entrusted to the Paris Foreign Missions Society. In 1840, the Apostolic Vicariate of Mongolia (today the Diocese of Siwantze) was detached. From the three remaining provinces—M., Kirin, and Heilungkiang—the provinces of Kirin and Heilungkiang were dismembered on 10 May 1898 to create the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Manchuria (today, in part, the Diocese of Kirin), while the remaining territory assumed the name of Southern Manchuria, which on 3 Dec. 1924 was changed to that of M. On 11 Apr. 1946, the same vicariate was elevated to a metropolitan archdiocese with four suffragan sees: Kirin, Fushun, Sze-pingkai, and Yenki. On 14 July 1949, the archdiocese, again dismembered for the erection of the Diocese of Ying-Kow, was transferred from the Paris Foreign Missions Society to the Chinese secular clergy.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, Manchuria was visited more than once by some Chinese priests sent there by the Jesuits of Peking.
Motu proprio – M.p. of Clement XII (23 July 1735). Note the Pope’s autograph note: “Placet motu proprio L(aurentio)” – Vatican Apostolic Archive, A. A. Arm. 1-XVIII, 257.
Sier, an ancient capital of the Bourbonnais.
The first missionaries to exercise a continuous and organized ministry were the fathers of the aforementioned Society. During the Boxer persecution in 1900, the Apostolic Vicar Mons. Guillon, six missionaries, three native priests, and two nuns, along with a large number of faithful, suffered martyrdom.
The Archdiocese of M. has an area of approximately 28,058 sq. km. The population is almost entirely Chinese, and the spoken language is nearly that of Peking (Northern Mandarin). Out of approximately 5,095,526 inhabitants, there are 20,000 Catholics with 573 catechumens. There are 29 native priests; 10 major seminaries; 138 native nuns and 16 foreign; 7 hospitals; 6 orphanages; 3 homes for the elderly; 2 secondary schools; and one printing press.
The city of M., capital of Manchuria, is the seat of the archbishopric.