Roman Catholic Diocese of Yichang

Diocese of Yichang Dioecesis Iciamensis 天主教宜昌教区
Location
Country	China
Ecclesiastical province	Hankou
Metropolitan	Hankou
Statistics
Area	28,000 km2 (11,000 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2008) 4,039,000 30,000 (0.74%)
Information
Rite	Latin Rite
Cathedral	Cathedral of St. Francis in Yichang
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Sede Vacante
Metropolitan Archbishop	Sede Vacante

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Yichang/Ichang (Latin: Iciamen(sis), Chinese: 宜昌) is a diocese located in the city of Yichang in the Ecclesiastical province of Hankou in China.

History

Church steeples over Yichang

• September 2, 1870: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 from the Apostolic Vicariate of Hupeh 湖北
• December 3, 1924: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Yichang 宜昌
• April 11, 1946: Promoted as Diocese of Yichang 宜昌

Leadership

• Bishops of Yichang 宜昌 (Roman rite)
  • Bishop Francis Lu Shouwang (2007 - April 30, 2011)
  • Bishop Paul Francis Zhang Mingqian O.F.M. (to 2005)
  • Bishop Noël Gubbels, O.F.M. (顧學德) (April 11, 1946 – November 18, 1950)
• Vicars Apostolic of Yichang 宜昌 (Roman Rite)
  • Bishop Noël Gubbels, O.F.M. (顧學德) (March 25, 1930 – April 11, 1946)
• Vicars Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (Roman Rite)
  • Bishop Johannes Trudo Jans, O.F.M. (December 13, 1923 – December 23, 1923)
  • Bishop Modest Everaerts, O.F.M. (December 24, 1904 – October 27, 1922)
  • Bishop Théotime Matthieu Verhaehen, O.F.M. (April 27, 1900 – July 19, 1904)
  • Bishop Benjamin Christiaens, O.F.M. (February 13, 1889–1899)
  • Bishop Alessio Maria Filippi, O.F.M. (January 25, 1876 – November 22, 1888)

References

• GCatholic.org
• Catholic Hierarchy
• Diocese website (Chinese)
• UCAN Diocese Profile