Diocese of

Yichang 宜昌

China

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Yichang 宜昌 (中文) / Ichang / Yíchāng 宜昌 (简体中文) / Iciamen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Hankou 漢口

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1870.09.02: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (中文) / Hu-pé Occiduo-Meridionale / Southwestern Húběi 湖北南境 (简体中文) / de Hupé occiduo-meridionalis (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Hupeh 湖北)
1924.12.03: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Yichang 宜昌 (中文) / Ichang / Yíchāng 宜昌 (简体中文) / de Ichang (Latin)
1936.07.07: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Shashi 沙市
1938.06.14: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Shinan 施南
1946.04.11: Promoted as Diocese of Yichang 宜昌 (中文) / Ichang / Yíchāng 宜昌 (简体中文) / Iciamen(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Hankou 漢口)

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Ordinaries

Bishops of Yichang 宜昌 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francis Lu Shou-wang (呂守旺)
(2007 – 2011.04.30)

In verbo autem tuo

Born:	1966.03.17 (China)
Ordained Priest:	1991.05.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.11.30
Died:	2011.04.30 († 45)

Bishop of Yichang 宜昌 (China) (2007 – 2011.04.30)

Bishop Paul Francis Zhang Ming-qian (張鳴謙), O.F.M. ▼
(1959 – 2005.07.24▼)

Born:	1917.10.26 (China)
Ordained Priest:	1944.04.16
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.08.15 (no papal mandate)
Died:	2005.07.24 († 87)

Bishop of Yichang 宜昌 (China) (1959 – 2005.07.24▼)

Bishop Pierre-Henri-Noël Gubbels (顧學德), O.F.M.
(1946.04.11 – 1950.11.18)

Born:	1874.08.24 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1897.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1930.05.11
Died:	1950.11.18 († 76)

Titular Bishop of Attuda (1930.03.25 – 1946.04.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Yichang 宜昌 (China) (1930.03.25 – 1946.04.11)

Bishop of Yichang 宜昌 (China) (1946.04.11 – 1950.11.18)

Apostolic Administrator of Shinan 施南 (China) (1946.04.11 – 1950.11.18)

Vicars Apostolic of Yichang 宜昌 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Pierre-Henri-Noël Gubbels (顧學德), O.F.M.
(1930.03.25 – 1946.04.11)

(see above)

Bishop Trudo Johannes Jans (鄧炳文), O.F.M.
(1924.12.03 – 1929.09.09)

Born:	1877.03.04 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1903.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1924.05.01
Died:	1929.09.09 († 52)

Vicar Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (China) (1923.12.13 – 1924.12.03)

Titular Bishop of Rhosus (1923.12.13 – 1929.09.09)

Vicar Apostolic of Yichang 宜昌 (China) (1924.12.03 – 1929.09.09)

Vicars Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Trudo Johannes Jans (鄧炳文), O.F.M.
(1923.12.13 – 1924.12.03)

(see above)

Bishop Modest Everaerts (楊睦多), O.F.M.
(1904.12.24 – 1922.10.27)

Born:	1845.12.03 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1869.05.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1905.04.02
Died:	1922.10.27 († 76)

Titular Bishop of Tadama (1904.12.24 – 1922.10.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (China) (1904.12.24 – 1922.10.27)

Bishop Théotime Matthieu Verhaehen (德希聖), O.F.M.
(1900.04.27 – 1904.07.19)

Born:	1867.02.19 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1890.03.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1900.11.11
Died:	1904.07.19 († 37)

Titular Bishop of Syene (1900.04.27 – 1904.07.19)

Vicar Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (China) (1900.04.27 – 1904.07.19)

Bishop Benjamin Christiaens (祁棟樑), O.F.M.
(1889.02.13 – 1899)

Born:	1844.02.24 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1868.06.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1889.05.12
Died:	1931.01.07 († 86)

Vicar Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (China) (1889.02.13 – 1899)

Titular Bishop of Colophon (1889.02.13 – 1931.01.07)

Bishop Alessio Maria Filippi (董文芳), O.F.M.
(1876.01.25 – 1888.11.22)

Born:	1818.12.16 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1841
Died:	1888.11.22 († 69)

Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (China) (1870.08 – 1876.01.25)

Titular Bishop of Cæsarea Paneas (1876.01.25 – 1888.11.22)

Vicar Apostolic of Southwestern Hupeh 湖北南境 (China) (1876.01.25 – 1888.11.22)

Fr. Alessio Maria Filippi (董文芳), O.F.M. (later Bishop)
(1870.08 – 1876.01.25)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. Francis, Yichang 宜昌, Hubei

Shinan 施南 (←), Wanxian 萬縣 (←), Laohekou 老河口 (↑), Xiangyang 襄陽 (↗), Hanyang 漢陽 (→), Shashi 沙市 (↘), Lixian 澧縣 (↓)

Statistics (1950.12.31)

Area: 28,000 km²

Population: 15,078 Catholics (0.3% of 5,500,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 156 parishes

Personnel: 57 priests (15 diocesan, 42 religious), 77 religious (77 sisters), 26 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.01.27

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