BANDJERMASIN, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - The first mission station (Laham), founded in 1907 by the Capuchins of the apostolic vicariate of Dutch Borneo, became in 1926 the radiating centre of the apostolate of the Missionaries of the Holy Family of Grave, to whom was subsequently entrusted the apostolic prefecture of B., detached from the aforesaid vicariate and erected on 21 May 1938. In 1949 it was raised to an apostolic vicariate.
Area of the territory: 387,627 sq. km. Total population: approximately 1,670,000 inhabitants. Natives (Malays immigrated from other parts of the archipelago and Bornean tribes of the Dajaks), for the most part Muslim; in addition, approximately 3,400 Europeans, two fifths of them Protestant, with substantial groups of Chinese and Arabs. In 1948 the Catholics numbered 5,120 natives and 2,180 foreigners, with 660 catechumens. Fourteen Franciscan sisters of Veghel cooperate with 31 priests and 10 brothers. There are 18 elementary schools with 1,266 pupils; vocational schools: 1 with 35 female pupils. The gradual development of the mission is based especially upon the Dajaks.