WAMBA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — Located in the north-eastern part of the Belgian Congo, it borders on the Apostolic Vicariates of Buta, Niangara, Lake Albert, Beni in the Belgian Congo and Stanleyville.
It encompasses the entire region watered by the Nepoko River and lies between the 27th degree of west longitude, the 29th degree of east longitude and the Ituri River. The Apostolic Vicariate of W. was erected on 10 March 1949 by division of the Apostolic Vicariate of Stanley Falls (now Stanleyville) and entrusted to the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. With an area of 35,321 sq. km., it has a population of approximately 192,000 inhabitants. Among the tribes living in the vicariate, the Wabudu, Walika and Walese stand out in number and importance. There are 23,988 Catholics, 76,129 catechumens, approximately 8,650 Protestants, approximately 1,112 Muslims and the remainder pagans; 1 indigenous priest, 18 foreign missionaries of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; 5 major seminarians, 60 minor seminarians, 8 foreign lay brothers, 16 indigenous sisters of the indigenous religious Congregation of the Holy Family, 20 foreign sisters; 8 principal missionary stations, 312 secondary ones; numerous schools, including elementary, vocational, normal and secondary, with more than 12,000 pupils. There are also works for good social and health assistance. The average number of conversions, from 1949 to the present, has remained almost constant at around 2,000 per year.
The main obstacle to more fruitful evangelisation is polygamy, which, despite the decree of prohibition issued by the Belgian government on 4 April 1950, remains a widely practised custom among the indigenous population of the vicariate.
Mariano Clementi
WANDRILLE, ABBEY OF St.: V. ROUEN, ARCHDIOCESE OF.