NINGPO, 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, was divided on 10 May 1910 into the apostolic vicariates of western Chekiang (v. HANGCHOW) and eastern Chekiang, which on 2 Dec. 1924 took the name of N.
After ceding part of its territory for the formation of the apostolic vicariate of Taichow (v. 10 Aug. 1926), of the apostolic prefecture of Chuchow, now Lishui (v. 2 July 1931), and of the diocese of Yungkia (v. 3 March
1949), it was, on 11 Apr. 1946, with the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy in China, elevated to the rank of a suffragan diocese of Hangchow. It is entrusted to the Congregation of the Mission.
It has an area of approximately 20,000 sq. km. As of 30 June 1949, out of approximately 6,000,000 inhabitants, there were 17,497 Catholics; besides the bishop, there were 17 foreign and 41 Chinese priests, 12 major seminarians, and 19 minor seminarians; 90 Chinese and 16 foreign nuns; 56 catechists, 180 teachers, and 103 baptized persons; 13 churches and 98 chapels. Its institutions include 6 hospitals and 7 homes for the elderly. There were 40 schools.
When the apostolic vicariate of
Chekiang and Kiangsi was erected in 1838, one of the few groups of faithful existing throughout the territory was located at N.; before that date evangelization had been carried out by the Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Fathers of the Paris Foreign Missions, and also by other priests sent directly by the S. Congr. de Propaganda Fide and consequently called “propagandists.”
Arch. di Prop. Fide, Relazione N. 1949.