OUDTSHOORN, DIOCESE of - In the Union of South Africa, on territory detached on 3 Aug. 1874 from the apostolic vicariate of the western district of the Cape of Good Hope (now the diocese of Cape Town) and erected into an apostolic prefecture of the central district of the Cape of Good Hope, entrusted to the missionaries of the Seminary of Lyon, now the Society for African Missions (v.). The latter, by virtue of the decree of 3 July 1879, ceded it to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, receiving in exchange the apostolic prefecture of the Gold Coast and Ivory Coast.
In 1882 these missionaries had to abandon it, and it was placed under the administration of the apostolic vicar of Cape Town, assisted by the secular clergy and the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. On 20 June 1885 certain districts formed the apostolic prefecture of the Orange River (now the diocese of Keimoes). In 1922, "vivae vocis oraculo," it was entrusted to the Pious Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers), as is evident from the rescript of 17 May 1923. On 16 March 1927 the civil district of Prieska was ceded to the apostolic vicariate of the Orange River, and the latter ceded the districts of Calvinia and Fraserburg.
On 28 June 1930 the districts of Worcester, Swellendam, Tulbagh, Ceres, Riversdale, Montagu and Robertson were annexed to it from the apostolic vicariate of Cape Town, which in 1934 ceded the island of St. Helena. On 13 June 1939 it received its present name; on 9 Dec. 1948 it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate, and on 11 Jan. 1951, with the establishment of the hierarchy in the Union of South Africa, it was elevated to a diocese.
Its area is about 185,000 sq. km., with a temperate and healthful climate. The principal cities are connected by railway. Half of the population, which is about 360,000 inhabitants, is of European origin, and many are of mixed origin. The native Hottentots, Bushmen and Bantu are few. English and Afrikaans are spoken. There are 15 Pallottine missionaries and 3 diocesan priests, 12 brothers and 109 sisters, of whom 11 are native. Native Catholics 701, foreign 950, mixed 2129, catechumens 195. Protestants 340,000. Jews about 2500, Muslims about 3000. Few are pagans. Primary stations 15, secondary 9, chapels 18, dispensaries 7. Elementary schools 13; higher 1, vocational 2. A Catholic periodical is published there with about 1500 copies. The charitable associations and those of Catholic Action are flourishing.