CANELOS, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - The mission of S. Giuseppe di C. in the Republic of Ecuador was founded in 1624 by the Dominican fathers, who, two centuries later, owing to the hostility of the government, were obliged to leave the works they had begun and withdraw in order to avoid serious persecutions.
They returned there in 1827, seeking to revive among the small Christian communities the remaining life, which had meanwhile fallen dormant. From 1869 the Jesuits of Napo worked there, but were later compelled to abandon the territory for political reasons. In 1886 the mission was again entrusted to the Dominican fathers and erected into an apostolic prefecture. In 1929 the parish of Macas, detached from the diocese of Riobamba, whose spiritual care had already been entrusted to the Dominicans, was united to it; one year later the said parish was incorporated into the apostolic vicariate of Mendez and Gualaquiza. The mission has an area of 98,000 sq. km.; the population amounts to 17,000 inhabitants, of whom 11,000 are Catholics, 280 Protestants, and the remainder pagans.
Seven Dominican fathers and an equal number of brothers work there. There are three schools with 211 pupils, and 12 churches.