Chaco Paraguayan, Apostolic Vicariate of

CHACO PARAGUAYANO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. – It comprises the territory of the northern C. annexed to Paraguay by the Treaty of Buenos Aires of 1938. In the past, ecclesiastically, part belonged to the Apostolic Vicariate of C. (Bolivia) and part to the Diocese of Concezione and C.; on 12 March

1948 it was erected as an autonomous mission entrusted to the Society of s. Giovanni Bosco.

The vicariate has an area of 232,650 sq km and a population of approximately 100,000 inhabitants, among whom there are approximately 10,000 Indians. The number of Catholics is not known exactly. There are few churches and chapels. At present, 6 Salesian priests and several coadjutor brothers work there.