In 1883 part of the vicariate was cut off and formed into the Vicariate Apostolic of Amoy, which also was made to embrace the Island of Formosa. The most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Ibanez is Vicar-apostolic, and under his direction are working fourteen Spanish Dominicans, one native Dominican. The vicariate is divided into fourteen districts, half of which are in Formosa. They have forty chapels or oratories, twenty schools for boys and girls, and a seminary in the town of Ta-Kow in Formosa.
A few words about the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, who are engaged on the work of the Holy Infancy in both vicariates, will be interesting. There are fifteen European sisters in all, besides eight native women. They have five orphanages in which are housed 200 female orphans abandoned by their unnatural parents in infancy, and kept by the Sisters till they can marry them into Christian families. Besides these they have rescued since 1891, 800 others whom they place under the care of Christian nurses, and look after till they can settle them in life.
The only fact we can give of the Vicariate of Central Tonquin, also under the care of the Philippine Dominicans, is that in 1890 alone 2,100 natives were converted and baptized.
[1] From the Analecta Ordinis Prædicatorum.