BONDO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - The Crocigeri missionaries, who arrived in B. (Belgian Congo) on 13 Dec. 1920, under the direction of the apostolic prefect of western Uélé, founded the first station (Moyong, 16 Jan. 1921). Transferred to B. in 1922, it became the centre of evangelization for a vast territory north of the right bank of the Uélé River, erected as an apostolic prefecture on 10 March 1926 and subsequently as a vicariate in 1937. Its boundaries with the vicariate of Niangara were adjusted by its receiving the “chefferie” of Solo (1941).
Area (northern part of the Uélé district), approximately 75,000 sq. km.; total population 182,000 inhabitants, mostly Azandi. In 1948 there were 27,117 Catholics, 5,500 catechumens, 10 dissidents of the Eastern rite; approximately 300 Protestants, 12 Muslims, and 15,000 pagans. There are 410 stations (10 residential), entrusted to 37 Crocigeri priests, together with two indigenous priests; 17 brothers and 31 sisters; 405 catechists and 176 teachers; two indigenous congregations, male and female, are well established. Worth noting, besides a minor seminary, are the numerous elementary schools (with 4,891 pupils), 1 vocational school (20 pupils), 1 teacher-training school (53 pupils), and 5 schools for catechists (24 pupils); 6 hospitals and 6 dispensaries, 12 orphanages, 6 homes for the elderly, and 4 leper colonies.