!!!Missionare

Missionaries: In the 17%%sup th/%  and 18%%sup th/%  centuries many 
Austrian missionaries were active in China, South-East Asia, America 
and Africa (there were 737 German-speaking Jesuits, 22 % of whom 
came from Austria and 40 % from former Austrian countries). A 
great number of missionaries were also scholars and explorers. China 
was the destination of many scholars of mathematics, astronomy and 
cartography, like A.  Koffler, X.  Friedel, M. Martini from Trento 
("Novus Atlas Sinensis", 1655), J.  Grueber from Linz (the first Tibet 
explorer), C. W. Herdtrich (author of a Chinese-Latin dictionary) 
and G. von Laimbeckhoven from Vienna (d. 1758, Bishop of Nanking). 
Austrian missionaries were also active in the Marianas, the 
Philippines and in Hindustan. In South America Austrian Jesuits were 
licenced to work as missionaries from 1684 on. They did missionary and 
research work in Mexico (E. F.  Kuehn, Karl Boranga, the natural 
scientist F. von Inama-Sternegg, etc.), the area of the Orinoco River 
(C. Ruedel from Salzburg), the Marañon river (F. X. 
Zephyris, F. Veigl), in Peru (F. Borinic, J. Roehr, F. X. Eder), 
Chile (F. Khuen) and Paraguay (A. Sepp von Rechegg, M. Strobl, J.  
Briegniel, M.  Dobrizhoffer). When the Jesuit Order was dissolved in 
1773, missionary work came to an end. In 1882 abbot F. Pfanner from 
Vorarlberg founded a missionary abbey in Mariannhill, which became the 
biggest mission centre of South Africa. In the following years 
missionaries from the  Missionshaus St. Gabriel near Moedling, 
who went on study tours, were particularly active. Numerous 
collections in various museums in Austria and publications give proof 
of the extensive work done by Austrian missionaries, many of whom died 
in World War II. Missionaries often stood up for the rights of the 
poor at the risk of their own lives, such as the Vorarlberg Bishop of 
Xingu (Brazil), E. Kraeutler. - There are 620 Austrian missionaries 
(1993: Africa 196, America 273, Asia 107, Europe 15, Australia and 
Oceania 29), of whom 418 are sisters, 27 brothers and 175 priests.  
Missionary Associations and Mission Houses.


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