Apostolic Prefecture of

Tongzhou 同州

China

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Prefecture

Name: Tongzhou 同州 (中文) / Tungchow / Tóngzhōu 同州 (简体中文) / Tungchoven(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Xi’an 西安 (↙), Sanyuan 三原 (←), Yan’an 延安 (↑), Xinjiang 新絳 (↗), Luoyang 洛陽 (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Now Governed by Patriotic Diocese: Weinan 渭南 Uncanonical Diocese

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1931.11.03: Established as Mission sui juris of Tongzhou 同州 (中文) / Tungchow / Tóngzhōu 同州 (简体中文) / Tungchoven(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Xi’anfu 西安府)
1935.04.08: Promoted as Apostolic Prefecture of Tongzhou 同州 (中文) / Tungchow / Tóngzhōu 同州 (简体中文) / Tungchoven(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Prefect Apostolic (2002 – ...):

Bishop Joseph Tong Chang-ping (同長平) (57)

Ordinaries

Prefects Apostolic of Tongzhou 同州 (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Tong Chang-ping (同長平) (57)
(2002 – ...)

Prefect Apostolic of Tongzhou 同州 (China)

Born:	1968.12.06 (陝西, China)
Ordained Priest:	1997.01.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.12.24

Prefect Apostolic of Tongzhou 同州 (China) (2002 – ...)

Bishop Lawrence Zhang Wen-bin (張文彬) ▼
(1981 – 2002.12.24▼)

Born:	1915.05.30 (China)
Ordained Priest:	1943
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.07.24 (no papal mandate)
Died:	2002.12.24 († 87)

Prefect Apostolic of Tongzhou 同州 (China) (1981 – 2002.12.24▼)

Fr. Pietro Moretti (穆繼文), O.F.M.
(1935.04.08 – 1973)

Born:	1888.05.22 (Italy)
Ordained Priest:	1914.06.21
Died:	1973 († 85)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Tongzhou 同州 (China) (1932.04.22 – 1935.04.08)

Prefect Apostolic of Tongzhou 同州 (China) (1935.04.08 – 1973)

Ecclesiastical Superiors of Tongzhou 同州 (Roman Rite)

Fr. Pietro Moretti (穆繼文), O.F.M.
(1932.04.22 – 1935.04.08)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Weinan 渭南, Shaanxi
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Xi’an 西安 (↙), Sanyuan 三原 (←), Yan’an 延安 (↑), Xinjiang 新絳 (↗), Luoyang 洛陽 (→)

Statistics (1950.12.31)

Area: 17,000 km²

Population: 6,650 Catholics (0.5% of 1,370,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 10 parishes, 15 missions

Personnel: 19 priests (7 diocesan, 12 religious), 9 religious (9 sisters), 4 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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