Ruteng, Apostolic Vicariate of

RUTENG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - On March 8, 1951, the entire territory of the apostolic vicariate of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia) was divided into three new vicariates, namely Endeh, Larantuka (v.) and R.

The apostolic vicariate of R., thus named after the city of residence of the Ordinary, consists of the entire civil district of Manggarai, whose area is 6,700 sq km., with about 230,000 inhabitants, of whom 116,099 are Catholics and 3,300 catechumens; 25,000 Muslims, 85,000 pagans. The Protestants are negligible in number: barely 200.

Evangelization began in 1556, through the work of the Portuguese Dominicans, who remained in the Lesser Sunda Islands until 1860. From that date until 1914 the same islands were under the care of the Dutch Jesuits. They then passed, and still remain, under the administration of the Fathers of the Society of the Divine Word.

There are 25 priests, 3 brothers and 8 Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, who attend to the direction of the schools and the care of the sick; 2 major and 26 minor seminarians, who study in the Seminary of the apostolic vicariate of Endeh. There are 14 churches; 4 forane vicariates; 14 primary and 13 secondary stations; 90 elementary schools; one middle school; 2 vocational schools; one teachers' training school; 218 teachers; 168 catechists. Neither the Protestants nor the Muslims have schools of their own. Several religious confraternities flourish there, and a newspaper entitled Pelita Seia is published there, with a circulation of 1,300 copies.

Edoardo Pecorsio