Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang
Battambangen(sis)
Apostolic prefecture · Latin Church · Battambang, Cambodia
The Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang is a Latin-rite missionary jurisdiction in northwestern Cambodia, erected on 26 September 1968 when the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh was divided into Phnom Penh, Kompong Cham and Battambang. It covers nine provinces including Battambang and Siem Reap and counted about 4,100 Catholics in 2010. Apostolic Prefect Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez, S.J., known for his work with landmine survivors, has led it since 1 April 2000.
The see
- Rank
- Apostolic prefecture
- Tradition
- Latin Church
- Erected
- 26 September 1968
- Latin
- Battambangen(sis)
- Annuario code
- 001000473
The see in figures
- Catholics
- 4,125
- Population
- 4,335,000
- Catholic share
- 0.1%
- Priests
- 22
- Catholics per priest
- 188
- Extent
- 81,456 km²
- Catholics per km²
- 0.1
of the people living within its bounds
Figures as recorded in the register, from the Annuario Pontificio and the see's own published statements. Shares and ratios are computed from the two figures shown beside them.
The bishop
- Apostolic Prefect
- Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez, S.J.
A see whose chair stands empty is recorded as vacant rather than filled with a guess. On what a bishop is, see the bishop.
History
North-western Cambodia falls under the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang (or Bătdâmbâng), a territorial subdivision of the Roman Catholic Church answering directly to the Holy See through the Dicastery for Evangelization. Its 80,430 km2 take in the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear, Pursat and Siem Reap. As of 2006 the estimated population of the territory stood at 4,639,184, of whom 7,000 were members of the Catholic Church. The prefecture counts 27 parishes or pastoral areas and 10 priests in all.
What is kept by invitation
The record above is published because it is public: what this see is, when it was erected, who holds its chair, and where it stands among its neighbours.
The working record is not. The chancery's address, telephone and email, the clergy of the see, and the hours of Mass, confession and adoration in the parishes within it are kept for members, and a person reads every request.
Sources
The see's own website · Wikipedia
This record is compiled from the published statements of the see and the references of the Holy See, among them the Annuario Pontificio. On the method, see the keeping of the record. Whoever finds an error is asked, in charity, to write: [email protected].