CASANARE, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — The first evangelizers of the region of C. in Colombia were the Augustinian Recollects, who were forced to leave the territory during the war of independence against Spain. They returned at the end of the 19th century, with the benevolence and support of the Colombian government, and, almost to make up for lost time, worked with great zeal in the areas inhabited by wild or semi-civilized indigenous peoples.
In 1893 the apostolic vicariate was erected, from which, on 26 May 1915, by decree of the Sacred Congregation of the *Consistorial*, the province of Arauca was detached to be erected into an apostolic prefecture. The first apostolic vicar, Bishop Ezechiele Moreno, titular bishop of Pinara, died in a reputation of holiness.
The area of the mission is 64,000 sq. km., with a population of 45,000, of whom 42,000 are Catholic, 2,300 are pagans, and the rest are Protestants. There are 11 priests, 23 sisters, 31 catechists, and 62 teachers. There are 4 parishes, 20 churches, and 14 chapels. Schools: 8 elementary with 256 pupils; 35 middle with 1,025 pupils; 3 higher with 99 pupils. One hospital with 20 beds, a pharmacy, and two orphanages.