TAICHOW [TAIZHOU], Diocese of. - In the central-eastern part of the province of Chekiang, in central China.
It was erected as an apostolic vicariate on 10 Aug. 1926 with 5 civil sub-prefectures of the apostolic vicariate of Ningpo (v.) and was entrusted to the care of the "patrum Sinensium Congregationis Missionis", that is, to the Chinese Lazarists of the regular province of southern China. On 11 Apr. 1946, with the establishment of the episcopal hierarchy in China, it was elevated to a diocese, suffragan of Hangchow.
It has an area of 3135 sq km. As of 30 June 1948, out of a total population of about 2,000,000 inhabitants, Catholics numbered 7813 and catechumens 383; priests 15; seminarians 8, of whom 1 was a major seminarian; sisters 35, all Chinese; catechists 49. Among the works were 1 orphanage, 3 medicine dispensaries, 1 home for the aged, 15 elementary schools.
The first missionary activity in the territory of T. was carried out by the Chinese Lazarist priest Fou, called there in 1867 by two compatriots, the only Christians of the place. In 1869 the rev. Sin, of the Chinese secular clergy, was sent there from Ningpo; he died of cholera a month after his arrival. In Feb. 1870 a third priest arrived there, the Italian Lazarist Rizzi: at their death, which occurred in the same year (1890), Fou and Rizzi left 190 Catholics. The bodies of these three first missionaries rest, one beside the other, in the oratory of Sao-Tchao. Foreign and native Lazarists came afterward and evangelization progressed: places of worship, colleges, and the work of the Holy Childhood, directed by the native virgins of the Association of Purgatory, were multiplied, and thus the territory came to be handed over to the care of the local clergy.
Bibliography5 works
Adamo Pucci