Roman Catholic Diocese of Yongnian

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Yongnian/Weixian (Latin: Iomnienin(us), Chinese: 永年, 魏縣) is a diocese located in the city of Yongnian in the Ecclesiastical province of Beijing in China.

Diocese of Yongnian

Dioecesis Iomnieninus

天主教永年教区
Location
CountryChina
Ecclesiastical provinceBeijing
MetropolitanBeijing
Statistics
Population
- Total
- Catholics
9.43 million
150000
Information
RiteLatin Rite
Current leadership
BishopStephen Yang Xiang-tai
Metropolitan ArchbishopJoseph Li Shan
CoadjutorJoseph Sun Ji-gen

The diocese is also named Roman Catholic Diocese of Handan/Yongnian (Chinese: 邯郸/永年教区).[1]

History

The Catholic Church in Handan was established as an apostolic prefecture on May 24, 1929, by Pope Pius XI. The diocesan territory covered the counties of Yongnian, Jize, Zhuzhou, Weixian, Chengan, Cixian, Handan, Qinghe, Guangping, Feixiang with the cathedral located at Zhaozhuang of Weixian. It became an apostolic vicariate on March 6, 1933 and was made a diocese on April 11, 1946.[2]

  • May 24, 1929: Established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Yongnian 永年 from the Apostolic Vicariate of Xianxian 獻縣
  • March 6, 1933: Promoted as Apostolic Vicariate of Yongnian 永年
  • April 11, 1946: Promoted as Diocese of Yongnian 永年

The Diocese plans to build a cathedral in Handan, with a total cost of 3.5 million yuan.[3] The construction of the church was approved by the local government in 2013. The church will be designed by the School of Architecture of the Hebei University of Engineering and will be located in the Wulipu Village in the Sucao Township[4][5]

Handan/Yongnian is the fastest-growing diocese in Mainland China after the Diocese of Xingtai.[6]

Leadership
  • Bishops of Yongnian 永年 (Roman rite)
    • Coadjutor bishop Joseph Sun Jigen (2011)
    • Bishop Joseph Cui Shou-xun (Tsui Shou-hsün) (崔守恂) (April 11, 1946 – 1953)
  • Vicars Apostolic of Yongnian 永年 (Roman Rite)
    • Bishop Joseph Cui Shou-xun (Tsui Shou-hsün) (崔守恂) (March 6, 1933 – April 11, 1946)
  • Prefects Apostolic of Yongnian 永年 (Roman Rite)
    • Fr. Joseph Cui Shou-xun (Tsui Shou-hsün) (崔守恂) (later Bishop) (June 1, 1929 – March 6, 1933)

There are 85 priests in the diocese.[7]

References
  3. 邯郸：教区就主教府建设发布告全体子民书
  4. 调研邯郸教区主教府建设
  5. 邯郸市委统战部王社群部长全力推进主教府工作
  6. Religions & Christianity in Today's China, Vol. IV, 2014, No. 2, page 26, Online
  7. 亚洲/中国 - 河北邯郸（永年）教区六位执事晋铎

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