TAICHUNG, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - The apostolic prefecture of the island of Formosa was erected on 13 July 1913.
On 30 Dec. 1949 it was divided by the erection of that of Taipeh (now an archdiocese). The remaining territory of the former mission then assumed the designation of apostolic prefecture of Kaoshung. In the particular situation in which the island of Formosa finds itself, because of its overpopulation (seven million natives and more than two million Chinese refugees), the S. Congr. of Propaganda Fide, in order to provide more adequately for the spiritual needs of that territory, on 10 Aug. 1950 erected the apostolic prefecture of T., with the civil province of the same name, separating it from the apostolic prefecture of Kaoshung. The new missionary jurisdiction was entrusted to the Society for the Foreign Missions of the United States of America (Maryknoll), as capable of bringing sound dynamism to the evangelization of Formosa.