Semarang, Apostolic Vicariate of

SEMARANG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - Located in the central part of the island of Java (Indonesia), it comprises the civil districts of Temangung, Megelang, Pati and Japara.

Its area is 21,296 sq. km., with a population of about 10,000,000 inhabitants, of whom 7,000,000 are Mohammedans, 17,048 Calvinist Protestants, 2,900,000 pagans, 47,013 Catholics with 1,872 catechumens. The official language is Indonesian, which is spreading more and more throughout the whole archipelago as a bond of national union. The mission is entrusted to the Society of Jesus and is governed by a Javanese Jesuit bishop - the first from the native clergy - who also holds the office of Military Ordinary of the Indonesian army. It was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 25 June 1940, by separation from today's apostolic vicariate of Djakarta. In this part of the island of Java Catholicism has had its greatest success. The obstacles to a methodical and effective work of evangelization are not as serious as in the western regions of the island. During the last war and afterwards, the mission suffered considerable damage, but the zeal of the Jesuits and of the missionaries of the Holy Family was able to restore this circumscription to its former state, giving the missionary movement a new rhythm.

In 1950-51 the vicariate counted: 15 native priests; 56 Jesuit fathers; 9 missionaries of the Holy Family; 111 brothers; 296 sisters; 12 major and 104 minor seminarians; 36 catechists; 957 teachers; 5 doctors; 34 churches and 41 chapels; 5 hospitals; 9 pharmacies; 8 orphanages; 147 elementary schools; 22 middle schools; 5 vocational schools; 7 teachers' colleges; 1 printing press. There are 23 primary and 91 secondary stations.

Edoardo Pecorsio