Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou 福州, China

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Fuzhou 福州 (中文) / Minhou 閩侯 (中文) / Foochow / Min-Hou / Fúzhōu 福州 (简体中文) / Mǐnhóu 闽侯 (简体中文) / Fuceuven(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Changting 長汀, Funing 福寧, Xiamen 廈門

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1680: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Fujian 福建 (中文) / Fo-kien / Fújiàn 福建 (简体中文) / Fokien(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Cochin)
1687: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Chekiang and Kiangsi 浙江江西 and Apostolic Vicariate of Guangdong-Guangxi-Yunnan 兩廣及雲南
1696.10.15: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Guizhou 貴州, Apostolic Vicariate of Hupeh and Hunan 湖廣 and Apostolic Vicariate of Szechwan 四川
1883.10.03: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Fo-kien 福建北境 (中文) / Northern Fújiàn 福建北境 (简体中文)
1883.12.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Amoy 廈門
1923.12.27: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Fuzhou 福州 (中文) / Foochow / Fúzhōu 福州 (简体中文) / de Foochow (Latin) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Funingfu 福寧府 and Apostolic Prefecture of Tingzhou 汀州)
1929.07.18: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Shaowu 邵武
1931.05.06: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Jianningfu 建寧府
1946.04.11: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou 福州 (中文) / Minhou 閩侯 (中文) / Foochow / Min-Hou / Fúzhōu 福州 (简体中文) / Mǐnhóu 闽侯 (简体中文) / Fuceuven(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Funing 福寧 and Xiamen 廈門)
1947.05.08: Gained suffragan see Changting 長汀

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Fuzhou 福州 (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Peter Lin Jia-shan (林佳善)
(2020.06.09 – 2023.04.14▼)

我是善牧，我認識我的羊，我的羊也認識我

Born:	1936.09.09 (长乐市文武砂镇, 福建, China)
Ordained Priest:	1981.05.11
Consecrated Bishop:	1997.07.13 (clandestinely)
Died:	2023.04.14 (Fuzhou 福州, 福建, China † 86)

Priest of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1981.05.11 – 1997)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1997 – 2006.12.29)

Prefect Apostolic of Jian’ou 建甌 (China) (2006.12.29 – 2023.04.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (2016 – 2023.04.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (2020.06.09 – 2023.04.14▼)

Archbishop Peter Lin Jia-shan (林佳善)
(2016 – 2023.04.14)

(see above)

Bishop Ignatius Huang Shou-cheng (黃守誠)
(Apostolic Administrator 2006.12.29 – 2016.07.30)

Fr. Lín Yùn-tuán (林運團)
(Apostolic Administrator 2003.10.13 – 2006.12.29)

Archbishop John Yang Shu-dao (楊樹道)
(1995 – 2006.12.29)

光在黑暗中照耀，黑暗決不能勝過他

Born:	1919.04.16 (China)
Ordained Priest:	1947.10.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1987.03.08 (clandestinely)
Died:	2010.08.28 († 91)

Apostolic Administrator of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1982 – 1987)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1995 – 2006.12.29)

Archbishop Joseph Zheng Chang-cheng (鄭長誠)
(1991 – 2006.12.18)

天主是愛

Born:	1913.01.14 (China)
Ordained Priest:	1937.01.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1991.02.24
Died:	2006.12.18 († 93)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1991 – 2006.12.18)

Archbishop John Baptist Ye Er-shi (葉而適)
(1984 – 1987)

Born:	1908 (China)
Consecrated Bishop:	1984.06
Died:	1992.03.22 († 83)

Apostolic Administrator of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1976 – 1984)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1984 – 1987)

Fr. John Yang Shu-dao (楊樹道) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1982 – 1987)

Fr. John Baptist Ye Er-shi (葉而適) (later Archbishop)
(Apostolic Administrator 1976 – 1984)

Archbishop Joseph Lin Quan (林聖恩 / 林泉) ▼ (later Bishop)
(1958 – 1990▼)

Born:	1913.11.05 (China)
Ordained Priest:	1937
Consecrated Bishop:	1962.01.24 (no papal mandate)
Died:	2007.04.25 († 93)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1958 – 1990▼)

Archbishop Theodore Labrador Fraile (趙炳文), O.P.
(1946.06.13 – 1980.05.06)

Fiat voluntas tua

Born:	1888.11.11 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1914.10.02
Consecrated Bishop:	1926.10.24
Died:	1980.05.06 († 91)

Titular Bishop of Fussala (1926.05.18 – 1946.04.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Funingfu 福寧府 (China) (1926.05.18 – 1946.04.11)

Bishop of Funing 福寧 (China) (1946.04.11 – 1980.05.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1946.06.13 – 1980.05.06)

Vicars Apostolic of Fuzhou 福州 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco Aguirre Murga (宋金鈴), O.P.
(1923.12.27 – 1941.06.12)

Born:	1863.02.22 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1887.04.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1912.06.16
Died:	1941.06.12 († 78)

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Fo-kien 福建北境 (China) (1911.12.13 – 1923.12.27)

Titular Bishop of Botrys (1911.12.13 – 1941.06.12)

Vicar Apostolic of Fuzhou 福州 (China) (1923.12.27 – 1941.06.12)

Vicars Apostolic of Northern Fo-kien 福建北境 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francisco Aguirre Murga (宋金鈴), O.P.
(1911.12.13 – 1923.12.27)

(see above)

Bishop Salvador Masot y Gómez (蘇瑪素), O.P.
(1884.06.20 – 1911.03.17)

Born:	1845.11.18 (Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1869.06.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1884.10.12
Died:	1911.03.17 († 65)

Titular Bishop of Hauara (1884.06.20 – 1911.03.17)

Vicar Apostolic of Northern Fo-kien 福建北境 (China) (1884.06.20 – 1911.03.17)

Vicars Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Miguel Calderón (高彌額), O.P.
(1841 – 1883.02.14)

Born:	1803.12.04 (Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1840.02.16
Died:	1883.02.14 († 79)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1831.09.09 – 1841)

Titular Bishop of Bodona (1831.09.09 – 1883.02.14)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1841 – 1883.02.14)

Bishop Roque José Carpena Díaz (羅羅各), O.P.
(1812.10.15 – 1841)

Born:	1760.08.18 (Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1803.01.23
Died:	1845.12.30 († 85)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1801.03.31 – 1812.10.15)

Titular Bishop of Theveste (1801.03.31 – 1845.12.30)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1812.10.15 – 1841)

Bishop José Calvo (高若瑟), O.P.
(1781.02.16 – 1812.10.15)

Born:	1739 (Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1790.10.28
Died:	1812.10.15 († 72)

Titular Bishop of Meloë in Lycia (1781.02.16 – 1812.10.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1781.02.16 – 1812.10.15)

Bishop Francisco Pallás y Faro (黃方濟各), O.P.
(1753.07.11 – 1778.03.06)

Born:	1706.12.03 (Spain)
Consecrated Bishop:	1753.08.05
Died:	1778.03.06 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Synopolis (1753.07.11 – 1778.03.06)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1753.07.11 – 1778.03.06)

Saint Fr. Francisco Serrano Frías (德方濟), O.P.
(1747.05.26 – 1748.10.28)

Born:	1695.12.04 (Huéneja, Granada, Spain)
Died:	1748.10.28 🩸 (Fuzhou, 福建, China † 52)
Beatified:	1893.05.14
Canonised:	2000.10.01
Feast:	10.28

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1745.09.22 – 1747.05.26)

Titular Bishop of Tipasa (1745.09.22 – 1748.10.28 not possessed)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1747.05.26 – 1748.10.28)

Priest of Order of Preachers (Dominicans). Martyr.

Saint Bishop Pedro Sans i Jordà (桑實), O.P.
(1732.01.03 – 1747.05.26)

Born:	1680.09.03 (Ascó, Tarragona, Spain)
Ordained Priest:	1704.09.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1730.02.24
Died:	1747.05.26 🩸 (Fuzhou, 福建, China † 66)
Beatified:	1893.05.14
Canonised:	2000.10.01
Feast:	05.26

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1728.01.29 – 1732.01.03)

Titular Bishop of Mauricastrum (1728.01.29 – 1747.05.26)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1732.01.03 – 1747.05.26)

Bishop and religious of Order of Preachers (Dominicans). Martyr.

Fr. Magino Ventallol (馬熹諾), O.P.
(1718.12.03 – 1732.01.03)

Born:	1647.03.26 (Spain)
Died:	1732.01.03 († 84)

Coadjutor Bishop of Carystus (1718.12.03 – 1732.01.03 not possessed)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1718.12.03 – 1732.01.03)

Bishop Charles Maigrot (顏璫), M.E.P.
(1687.02.05 – 1708.05.04)

Born:	1652 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1676
Consecrated Bishop:	1700.03.14
Died:	1730.02.28 († 77)

Titular Bishop of Comanæ (1687.02.05 – 1696.10.22 not possessed)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1687.02.05 – 1708.05.04)

Titular Bishop of Conana (1696.10.22 – 1730.02.28)

Fr. Francisco Varo (萬濟國), O.P.
(1687.01.25 – 1687.01.31 not possessed)

Born:	1627.10.04 (Spain)
Died:	1687 († 60)

Titular Bishop of Lydda (1687.01.25 – 1687 not possessed)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1687.01.25 – 1687.01.31 not possessed)

Vicar Apostolic of Guangdong-Guangxi-Yunnan 兩廣及雲南 (China) (1687.01.31 – 1687)

Bishop Bernardino della Chiesa (伊大仁), O.F.M.
(1684.10.29 – 1687)

Born:	1644.05.08 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1671
Consecrated Bishop:	1680.03.21
Died:	1721.12.21 († 77)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1680.03.20 – 1684.10.29)

Titular Bishop of Argos (1680.03.20 – 1690.04.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1684.10.29 – 1687)

Bishop of Beijing 北京 (China) (1690.04.10 – 1721.12.21)

Bishop François Pallu (陸方濟), M.E.P.
(1680.04.15 – 1684.10.29)

Born:	1626.08.31 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1658.11.17
Died:	1684.10.29 († 58)

Titular Bishop of Heliopolis in Augustamnica (1658.07.29 – 1684.10.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Tonking (Vietnam) (1659.09.09 – 1679)

Founder of Paris Foreign Missions Society (1660)

Vicar Apostolic of Fujian 福建 (China) (1680.04.15 – 1684.10.29)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Archbishop: Archbishop Peter Lin Jia-shan (林佳善) (1997 – 2006.12.29)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Thomas-Marie Gentili (李宏治), O.P. (1868.06.07 – 1883.12.03)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Vicente Ferrer Carreras, O.P. (1866.01.30 – 1867.09.16)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Justo Alfonso Aguilar, O.P. (1848.09.05 – 1865.11.26)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Tomás Badía (巴敵亞), O.P. (1842.01.19 – 1844.09.01)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Miguel Calderón (高彌額), O.P. (1831.09.09 – 1841)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Tomás Sala (林查拉), O.P. (1818.08.14 – 1828.10.01)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Roque José Carpena Díaz (羅羅各), O.P. (1801.03.31 – 1812.10.15)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Saint Fr. Francisco Serrano Frías (德方濟), O.P. (1745.09.22 – 1747.05.26)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Hernando Eusebio Oscot y Colombres, O.P. (1737.10.01 – 1743.11.28)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Saint Bishop Pedro Sans i Jordà (桑實), O.P. (1728.01.29 – 1732.01.03)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Bernardino della Chiesa (伊大仁), O.F.M. (1680.03.20 – 1684.10.29)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Dominic, Fuzhou 福州, Fujian
Shrine: Church of the Mystical Rose, Changle 长乐, Fujian
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Xiamen 廈門 (↙), Changting 長汀 (←), Shaowu 邵武 (↖), Jian’ou 建甌 (↖), Funing 福寧 (↗), Hsinchu 新竹 (↘), Taipei 臺北 (↘)

Statistics (1950.12.31)

Area: 32,348 km²

Population: 40,525 Catholics (1.4% of 2,975,730 total)

Pastoral Centres: 96 missions

Personnel: 39 priests (27 diocesan, 12 religious), 2 seminarians