Vicariate Apostolic of the Lesser Sunda Islands
The territory, known as "Kleine Sunda Eilanden," was detached on 16 September 1913 from the apostolic vicariate of Batavia (now Jakarta) and erected as an apostolic prefecture of the Lesser Sunda Islands. However, the island of Flores, along with its annexed islands, was excluded. The following year, the same prefecture was entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word, incorporating the island of Flores as well.
On 12 March 1922, the mission was elevated to an apostolic vicariate. On 25 May 1936, Dutch Timor was detached and erected as an apostolic vicariate of the same name (now Atambua). On 14 July 1936, the two islands of Bali and Lombok were detached and erected as an apostolic prefecture of Den Pasar, named after the principal city of Bali.
This circumscription comprises a territory of 10,538 sq. km. and a population of 2,500,000 inhabitants, of whom 1,495 are Catholics with 113 catechumens; 2,220 are Protestants; 1,000,000 are Muslims; and 1,495,000 are pagans. On the island of Bali
the inhabitants are mostly Hindus and animists; in Lombok, however, Islam predominates. In 1935, a Divine Word Father established his residence in Lombok. There are 10 priests of the Divine Word; 3 minor seminarians, 25 preparatory students; 5 catechists; 5 doctors; 9 sacred buildings; 2 hospitals; an orphanage; and 3 elementary schools.
On 8 March 1951, the entire territory of the apostolic vicariate of the Lesser Sunda Islands was divided into three vicariates: Enehd, Larantuka (v.), and Ruteng (v.).
The beginnings of evangelization in the Lesser Sunda Islands date back to 1556. From that date until 1860, they were under the care of the Portuguese Dominicans. However, from the beginning of the 18th century to the mid-19th century, missionary work was almost paralyzed due to Muslim oppression and the struggle against Dutch Calvinists. In 1618, Father B. da Fortaleza and a confrere were killed for the faith. From 1860 to 1914, the islands were under the care of the Dutch Jesuit Fathers. Since 1914, they have been administered by the Society of the Divine Word.
The apostolic vicariate of Enehd, so named after the city of residence of the ordinary, located in the central part of the island of Flores, comprises three civil districts: Ngada, Enehd, and Maumore. The two islands of Sumba and Sumbawa remain temporarily under its jurisdiction until a new missionary institute willing to assume responsibility for those islands is found, at which point they will be constituted as an independent circumscription. With an area of 34,000 sq. km., the population is 5,200,000 inhabitants, of whom 243,557 are Catholics with 8,078 catechumens; 10,700 are Protestants; 4,450,000 are Muslims; and 450,000 are pagans (animists). There are 79 priests, of whom 10 are Indonesians and 31 are brothers; 92 sisters, of whom 42 are Indonesians; 2 major and 100 minor seminarians; 982 catechists; 585 teachers; one hospital; 10 boarding schools; 204 elementary schools; 2 secondary schools; 2 vocational schools; and 3 teacher-training schools. Two newspapers are published: *Bentan* with 3,250 copies and *Pandu Pendidikan* with 2,100 copies.