Shihtsien [Shiqian], Apostolic Prefecture of

SHIHTSIEN [SHIQIAN], APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - In the eastern part of the province of Kweichow, in central-southern China.

It was erected as a mission sui iuris on 23 March 1932 with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Kweiyang and was entrusted to the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which sends there the religious of the regular province of Lower Germany with its seat at Hiltrup. On 2 Dec. 1937 it was elevated to an apostolic prefecture. It has an area of 20,000 sq km. As of 30 June 1948, out of a total population of about 3,000,000 inhabitants, Catholics numbered 6,045 and catechumens 500, with 19 foreign religious priests and 3 Chinese secular priests, 4 seminarians in the preparatory course, 7 in the minor course and 5 in the major course. The auxiliary personnel counted 3 lay missionary brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 16 catechists and 58 teachers. The primary stations were 21, the secondary ones 7, served by 2 churches and 25 chapels. Among the works were 16 dispensaries, 1 orphanage and 4 elementary schools.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus arrived in the present territory of S. in 1927 and worked, until 1932, under the jurisdiction of the apostolic vicar of Kweiyang: they were the first to bring the preaching of the Gospel to the place, until then hindered by the lack of communications and by almost permanent civil unrest; their first superior, Fr. Winkelmann, was murdered by brigands in 1930.

Adamo Pucci