Diocese of Xianxian [Sienhsien]

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Bishop(s) Joseph Li Lian Gui, Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu, Bishop

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese Elevated: 11 April 1946 Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Beijing [Peking] Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: China Square Kilometers: 8,400 (3,244 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Catholic Mission, Chang-Kia-Chuang, Xianxian, Hebei, China

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Meridio-Orientale}
  • Latin Name: Ce-Li Meridio-Orientalis
  • Erected: 30 May 1856
  • Vicariate
  • Country: China

• Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien)
  • Latin Name: de Sienhsien (Siensien)
  • Name Changed: 3 December 1924
  • Vicariate
  • Country: China

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Adrien-Hyppolyte Languillat, S.J. † (30 May 1856 Appointed - 9 Sep 1864 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kiangnan)
• Édouard-Auguste Dubar, S.J. † (9 Sep 1864 Appointed - 1 Jul 1878 Died)
• Henri-Joseph Bulté, S.J. † (23 Mar 1880 Appointed - 14 Oct 1900 Died)
• Henri Maquet, S.J. † (31 Jul 1901 Appointed - 23 Dec 1919 Died)
• Henri Lécroart, S.J. † (23 Dec 1919 Succeeded - 2 Dec 1937 Resigned)
• Francis Xavier Zhao Zhen-sheng (Chao Cheng-sheng), S.J. † (2 Dec 1937 Appointed - 1970 Died)
• [John Liu Ding-han], S.J. † (10 Oct 1982 Ordained Bishop - 1998 Resigned)
• Paul Li Zhenrong, S.J. † (8 Apr 1983 Ordained Bishop - 19 Apr 1992 Died)
• Paul Song Wei-li, C.M. † (19 Sep 1987 Appointed - 1993 Appointed, Bishop of [Langfang (Patriotic)])
• Joseph Zhang Weizhu (27 Oct 1991 Ordained Bishop - )
• Peter Hou Jingwen (Heoujing Wen) † ( 1998 Succeeded - 23 Oct 1999 Died)
• Joseph Li Lian Gui (20 Mar 2000 Ordained Bishop - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Meridio-Orientale}
30 May 1856	Erected	Diocese of Peking [Beijing]	Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Meridio-Orientale} (erected)
23 December 1899	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Meridio-Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Orientale} (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien)
3 December 1924	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Meridio-Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien)
24 May 1929	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien) (Weihsien, Tsingho, Kitseh, Kuchow, Yungnien, Feisiang, Kwangping, Chengan, Hantan, and Tzechow)	Prefecture Apostolic of Yüngnien [Weixian] (erected)
11 March 1935	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien) (Taming, Nanlao, Tsingfeng, and Kaichow (or Puyang) along with Changyua)	Prefecture Apostolic of Taming [Daming] (erected)
24 April 1939	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien) (Kihsien, Ilengslmi, Tsaokiang, Wujiy Sinlio, Nankung, Fou'cheng, Kucheng, Wukiao, Kinghsien, Tungkwang, and Ningtsing)	Prefecture Apostolic of Kinghsien [Jingxian] (erected)
Diocese of Xianxian [Sienhsien]
11 April 1946	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien)	Diocese of Xianxian [Sienhsien]

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Xianxian [Sienhsien]
1950	62,000	2,200,000	2.8%	35	84	119	521		135	85	221	ap2002

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Joseph Li Lian Gui (Bishop: 20 Mar 2000)
• Joseph Zhang Weizhu (Bishop: 27 Oct 1991)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Henri-Joseph Bulté, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 23 Mar 1880 to 14 Oct 1900)
• Édouard-Auguste Dubar, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Sep 1864 to 1 Jul 1878)
• Peter Hou Jingwen (Heoujing Wen) † (Coadjutor Bishop: 18 Mar 1993; Bishop: 1998 to 23 Oct 1999)
• Adrien-Hyppolyte Languillat, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 May 1856 to 9 Sep 1864)
• Henri Lécroart, S.J. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jul 1917; Vicar Apostolic: 23 Dec 1919 to 2 Dec 1937)
• [John Liu Ding-han], S.J. † (Bishop: 10 Oct 1982 to 1998)
• Paul Li Zhenrong, S.J. † (Bishop: 8 Apr 1983 to 19 Apr 1992)
• Henri Maquet, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 31 Jul 1901 to 23 Dec 1919)
• Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, S.J. †
• Paul Song Wei-li, C.M. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 17 Feb 1982; Bishop: 19 Sep 1987 to 1993)
• Francis Xavier Zhao Zhen-sheng (Chao Cheng-sheng), S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Dec 1937; Bishop: 11 Apr 1946 to 1970)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Southeastern Chi-Li {Ce-Li Meridio-Orientale} Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 131 Vicariate Apostolic of Sienhsien [Xianxian] (Siensien) Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 23, to Page 25 Diocese of Xianxian [Sienhsien] Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 38, Page 301, to Page 313

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