INDO-CHINA
778
INDO-CHINA
Chartres, 2 houses with 8 rehgious; Amantes de la
Croix, 15; 54 churches and chapels; 35 schools with
797 pupils; 22 orphanages with 304 inmates;
(6) Maritime Tong-king, erected on 15 January, 1901: vicar, Mgr. Marcou, titular Bishop of Lysiade (residence, Phat-diem) ; population, 2,000,000;"('ath- olics, 90,000; priests, SS (33 European); catechists, 172; seminaries, 2 with 223 students; Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 3 houses with 12 religious; Amantes de la Croix, 6 houses with 112 religious; 356 churches and chapels; 453 schools with 10,400 pupils; 5 or- phanages with 1173 inmates; 18 hospitals (2 for lepers with 324 patients);
(7) Southern Tong-king: vicar, Mgr. Pineau, titu- lar Bishop of Calama (residence, Xa-doai); popula- tion, 2,000,000; Catholics, 132,206; catechumens, 350; priests, 115 priests (37 European); 280 cate- chists; 2 seminaries with 342 students; Amantes de la Croix, 6 houses with 148 religious; 395 churches and chapels; 182 schools with 5932 pupils; 6 orplianages with 1730 inmates; 12 pharmacies;
(S) Western Tong-king: vicar, Mgr. Gendreau, titu- lar Bishop of Chrysopolis (residence, Hanoi) ; popu- lation, 2,200,000; Catholics, 140,379; catechumens, 6329; priests, 1.34 (42 European) ; catechists, 380; 2 seminaries with 288 students; Carmelite Sisters, 1 house with 17 religious; Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 1 house with 35 religious; Amantes de la Croix, 16 houses with 330 religious; 502 churches and chapels; 600 schools with 17,480 pupils; 5 orphanages with 2436 inmates; 5 hospitals; 2 pharmacies;
(9) Upper Tong-king, erected 15 April, 1895: vicar, Mgr. Ramond, titular Bishop of Linoe (residence, Hang-hoa); population, 2,000,000; Catholics, 21,130; 47 priests (28 European); 87 catechi.sts; 1 seminary with 64 students; Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 2 houses with 12 religious ; Amantes de la Croix, 4 houses with 106 religious; 117 chapels and churches; 75 schools with 1.599 pupils; 3 orphanages with 165 inmates; 7 hospitals (3 for lepers) ; 5 pharmacies;
These nine vicariates Apostolic ha\'e lieen en- trusted to the ■Society of Foreign Missions (Paris). The remaining three are administered by the Domini- cans:
(10) Central Tong-king: vicar, Mgr. Munagorre y Obyncta, titular Bishop of Pityus (residence, Bui- chu); population, 2,000,000; Catholics, 219,650; 114 priests (22 European); 259 catechists; 2 seminaries with 150 students; Third Order of St. Dominic, 16 houses with 427 sisters; Amantes de la Croix, 3 houses with 33 religious; Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 15; 615 churches and chapels; 679 schools; 5 orphanages with 500 inmates; 7 hospitals (5 for lepers with 500 inmates) ;
(11) Eastern Tong-king: vicar, Mgr. Arellanos, titu- lar Bishop of Cocu.ssus (residence, Hai-duong); popu- lation, 2,000,000; Catholics, .54,200; catechumens, 400; 57 priests (17 European); 110 catechists; 2 semina- ries with 102 students; Third Order of St. Dominic, 4 houses with 81 religious; Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 2 houses with 23 religious; 264 churches anil chapels; 104 schools; 4 orphanages with 352 imnates ; 7 hospitals;
(12) Northern Tong-king: vicar, Mgr. Velasco, titu- lar Bishop of Amorium; population, 2,500,000; Catholics, 31,016; 46 priests (20 European) ; 66 cate- chists; 2seminaries with 46 students; Third Order of St. Dominic. 2 houses with 45 religious; Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 3 houses W'ith 12 religious; 162 churches and chapels; 167 schools; 3 orphanages with 43 inmates; 1 ho.spital.
Total for the twelve vicariates (an asterisk signifies that the returns are incomplete): population (esti- mated), 27,266,000; Catholics, 940,703; catechu- mens, 24,351*;_bishops, 12; priests, 1046 (443 Euro- pean); catechists, 1662; 21 seminaries with 1775 students; 109* convents with 3122* sisters; 3618
churches and chapels; 80* Brothers of the Christian
Schools; 2561 schools with 50,999* pupils; 97 orphan-
ages with 10,808 inmates; 70* hospitals; 50* pharma-
cies.
Training of the Native Clergy, Eeligimis Institutions, etc. — The native clergy are more numerous in Indo- China than in any other missionary country in the world. Their intimate acquaintance with the feel- ings and superstitions of their compatriots, whose mentality differs so widely from that of Western races, renders them of incalculable service to the missions. Of the solidity of their faith they have given al)Undant testimony during times of persecution, when their constancy rivalled that of their European apostles. Twenty-.six of their number have been already de- clared venerable. In accordance with the regulations of the Synod of 1795 each priest chooses a certain number of the mo.st promising boys from the leading Catholic families of his district: as the choice is con- sidered universally among the Christian flock to confer a great honour on the family, the priest finds no difficulty in recruiting a sufficient number of neo- phytes. Their training usually begins between the ages of ten and twel\-e; they serve the priest, study the Chinese cliaractcrs, and learn a little elementary Latin. At the age of seventeen or eighteen, those who have given evidence of a true vocation are sent to the .seminary to follow the course of studies proper to the priesthood: the others remain with the priest until the age of twenty or twenty-two, when they are sent to the school of catechists. Each priest is ex- pected to supply at least one candidate for the priest- hood annually, but .so healthy is the Christian senti- ment of the people that the seminaries are unable to accommodate all who seek admission. After a course of six or seven years' study, the candidates are sub- jected to a most searching catechetical examination to test their competence to teach Christian doctrine. If successful, they receive the diploma of catechist, are attached to one of the parishes — each is supposed to have at least three — and begin their real apostolate. Under the guidance of the priest, they instruct the catechumens, prepare the people for the reception of the sacraments, attend the sick, and discharge many of the minor duties of the ministry. After about six years of this valuable training, the catechi.sts, who have been especially conspicuous for their exem- plary conduct and Christian zeal, are sent to the theo- logical seminary, where after three years' further study they are admitted to the priesthood — usually between the ages of thirty-five and forty.
The principal religious institute for women in Indo-China is the (native) Congregation of .\mantes de la Croix, who have in Cochin China recently modi- fied their regulations and adopted the title of Filles de Marie. Fovmded more than two centuries ago, they evinced, like the native priests, an vmflinching faith during all the persecutions, sheltering the fugi- tives, nursing the sick and wo\mded, carrying food and consolation to the prisoners, and in many cases bearing the Viaticimi to those who were about to seal their Faith with their blood. The aims of the con- gregation are personal sanctification, the perform- ance of works of charity, and the instruction of the catechumens. They are often called upon — since the priests and catechists are frequently vmable to fulfil all the duties of the rapidly growing missions— to proceed to remote villages and instruct rude and uncultured neophytes in the truths of Christianity. This apostolate has been blessed with wonderful results: to the activity of a single religious (Sister Mieu), Father Gemot, a recent pro-vicar Apo.stolic at Saigon, declared he owed 1200 converts. The order has itself been the first vindication of woman- hood in Indo-China. Living in the midst of a pagan society, which regards women as creatures of a lower order and their education as nugatory, these sisters
