RAJABURI, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — It is situated on the Gulf of Siam and consists of five civil provinces, of which three were originally detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of Bangkok and the other two from the Diocese of Malacca (Birmania).
The first missionaries of the Society of S. Giovanni Bosco arrived in Siam in 1947 and settled in various stations as collaborators of the Fathers of the Paris Foreign Missions. On 30 June 1930, the aforesaid five provinces were constituted as a mission sui iuris under the name of R. This was elevated to an Apostolic Prefecture on 28 May 1934 and to an Apostolic Vicariate on 3 April 1941, entrusted to the Salesians.
Over an area of 118,000 sq. km., the population is 2,549,739 inhabitants, mostly Siamese, with a considerable proportion of Chinese. According to the statistical data for 1950–51, there are 17,173 Catholics and 55 catechumens; 3,000 Protestants; 380,000 Muslims; 1,870,000 Buddhists; 289,033 animists. Thirty priests work there, of whom
3 are Siamese; 11 coadjutor brothers; 55 sisters. There are 3 forane vicariates; 12 primary stations and 8 secondary stations; 19 sacred buildings; 2 pharmacies; 2 orphanages; 13 elementary schools; 5 middle schools; one secondary school; 19 catechists; 109 teachers. Various religious confraternities and Catholic Action associations flourish there. New missionary stations are being organized, and the work of evangelization promises encouraging developments. The ordinary resides at Bang Nok Khuek.