Chaco Paraguayano, Apostolic Vicariate of the.
It comprises the territory of northern Chaco annexed to Paraguay by the Buenos Aires Treaty of 1938. In the past, it belonged, ecclesiastically, partly to the Apostolic Vicariate of Chaco (Bolivia) and partly to the Diocese of Concepción and Chaco; on 12 March 1948 it was erected as an autonomous mission entrusted to the Society of St John Bosco.
The vicariate has an area of 232,650 sq km with a population of about 100,000, among whom there are about 10,000 Indians. The number of Catholics is not exactly known. There are few churches and chapels. At present, six Salesian priests and some coadjutor brothers work there.
Bibl.: Arch. of Prop. Fide, Pos. no. prot. 1106/42; 539/44; 2597/45; 586/48; AAS, 40 (1948), pp. 438-39. Antonio Mazza