NINGPO [NINGBO], Diocese of. - The apostolic vicariate of Chekiang, erected on 27 May 1846 and comprising the civil province of the same name, in central-eastern China, on 10 May 1910 was divided into the apostolic vicariates of Western Chekiang (v. HANGCHOW) and Eastern Chekiang, which on 2 Dec. 1924 took the name of N.
After having ceded part of its territory for the formation of the apostolic vicariate of Taichow (v.; 10 Aug. 1926), of the apostolic prefecture of Chuchow, today Lishui (v.; 2 July 1931), and of the diocese of Yungkia (v.; 3 March
1949), it was, on 11 Apr. 1946, with the erection of the episcopal hierarchy in China, elevated to a diocese suffragan of Hangchow. It is entrusted to the Congregation of the Mission.
It has an area of about 20,000 sq km. As of 30 June 1949, out of about 6,000,000 inhabitants, Catholics numbered 17,497; the priests, besides the bishop, 17 foreign and 41 Chinese, the major seminarians 12, the minor 19; the sisters 90 Chinese and 16 foreign; the catechists 56, the teachers 180, the baptized 103; the churches 13 and the chapels 98. Among the works are 6 hospitals and 7 homes for the aged. The schools were 40.
When in 1838 the apostolic vicariate of Chekiang and Kiangsi was erected, one of the few nuclei of faithful existing in the whole territory was to be found at N.; before that date the evangelization had been carried out by the Jesuits, by the Dominicans, by the Franciscans, by the Fathers of the Foreign Missions of Paris and also by other priests sent directly by the S. Congr. de Propaganda Fide and therefore called "propagandists".
Bibliography5 works
Adamo Pucci
Arch. di Prop. Fide, Relazione N. 1949.