Yenchow [Yanzhou], Diocese of

YENCHOW [YANZHOU], Diocese of. - In the central-southern part of the province of Shantung (northern China).

It was erected, under the name of apostolic vicariate of southern Shantung, on 8 January 1886, by division of the apostolic vicariate of Shantung (v. TSINAN), and it was the first of the missions entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word in China. On 3 December 1924 it took its present name from the city of Y. It underwent a first division on 11 February 1925 for the erection of Tsingtao (v.), a second on 13 December 1933 for that of Yangku (v.), and a third on 12 November 1934 for that of Tsaochow (v.). On 11 April 1946 it was elevated to a diocese, suffragan of Tsinan.

It has an area of about 30,000 sq km. As of 30 June 1947, out of a population of about 3,500,000 inhabitants, Catholics numbered 58,400; priests 83, of whom 13 were Chinese; major seminarians 13, minor seminarians 66; lay brothers 19, of whom 5 were Chinese; sisters: 67 native and 64 foreign. Among the works were 6 hospitals, 20 medicine dispensaries, 2 orphanages, 1 boys' college and 1 girls' college, 140 schools. At Y. there was also a major seminary shared by the missions of Y., Tsingtao, Ichow, Tsaochow and Yangku.

The religious of the Divine Word began their activity at Polichwang, now belonging to the mission of Yangku, where they arrived in 1882 and where they found a nucleus of 150 Christians. Despite the many difficulties caused by the Boxer persecution, the First and Second World Wars and other local causes, the excellent preparation of the Verbites, guided by the bishops John B. von Anzer (1886-1903) and Augustine Henninghaus (1903-1936), gave a vigorous rhythm to the missionary movement: as of 30 June 1947 the Christians of Y., of the three missions that arose from it (Tsingtao, Yangku, Tsaochow) and of Ichow, which arose from Tsingtao, numbered 202,565. Msgr. Anzer, in his attempt to bring the faith into the city of Tsaochow, was made the target of the insults of the mob incited by the rulers, then scourged until he bled and tied to a tree (1903); the same fate befell Fr. Joseph Freinademetz, who died in the odor of sanctity in 1908. On 2 November 1897 in a village of the district of Küyeh, now belonging to the mission of Tsaochow, Frs. Francis Nies and Reinhold Henle were killed.

Adamo Pucci