SURABAIA, VICARIATO APOSTOLICO of — Situated in the eastern part of the island of Java, Indonesia, it comprises the civil districts of S., Kendiri, Rembang, and Madiu, whose combined area is 26,269 sq km, slightly larger than Sicily, with a population of 9,000,000 inhabitants.
This territory was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 15 February 1928, by detachment from the present-day vicariate of Djakarta. On 16 October 1941 this prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate.
Until the arrival of the Dutch Lazarists, very little could be done for the evangelization of the indigenous population. The small number of Jesuits was almost entirely absorbed in the pastoral care of the Europeans, also because missionary work had hitherto been conducted with a predominantly colonialist mentality. The obstacles to methodical action for the conversion of the indigenous population arising from the Muslim religion must also be taken into account. The Lazarists arrived on the island of Java in July 1923 and after a few years fully replaced the Jesuits. In 1925 the Brothers of S. Luigi of Oudenbosch, assisted by the Ursulines of the Roman Union, founded the first primary school for Javanese boys. In July 1926 the Lazarists, with the support of the government, opened an identical school in Bitta, a small town in the interior of the region.
The spiritual condition of the mission is as follows: 20,722 Catholics with 753 catechumens; 8,500,000 Muslims; 400,000 pagans (animists); 48 priests, of whom 5 are Javanese; 35 brothers; 136 national and foreign sisters; 1 major seminarian and 33 minor seminarians, with 17 preparatory students; 33 catechists; 161 teachers; 23 sacred buildings; 3 hospitals; 2 dispensaries; 4 orphanages; 30 elementary schools; 15 secondary schools; 3 vocational schools; 2 teacher-training schools; 2 schools for catechists. Various newspapers are published there.
(phot. Fides)
« SURGE! IAM TERRIS FERA BRUMA CESSIT » — Hymn of Matins for the feast of the Assumption, composed in Sapphic metre by Vittorio Genovesi, S. J., in 1950 for the new Office after the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary.
It is an exaltation of the Virgin, whose immaculate purity merited her ascent into heaven without experiencing the dissolution of the tomb.