CHACO, Apostolic Vicariate of. - In Bolivia: the evangelization of the region was begun in the 16th century by the Carmelites, to whom in the 17th century the Jesuits and Franciscans also followed. Only in the 18th century were the Dominicans and Augustinians able to found three Christian settlements. From 1732 to 1767 the Jesuits resumed their work, and from 1757 to 1810 the task was taken up by the Apostolic Colleges of Propaganda Fide in Tarija and Potosí. The apostolate was interrupted by the war of independence from 1809 to 1825. In 1919 the missionary stations were incorporated into the Apostolic Vicariate of Chaco, erected in that same year with part of the territory of the diocese of Tarija.
The vicariate is entrusted to the Friars Minor. It has a surface area of 120,000 sq. km. with about 33,765 inhabitants, of whom 25,000 are Catholic and the rest non-believers. There are 2 deaneries, 4 parishes, 9 quasi-parishes and 20 small Christian settlements. There are 7 churches, 11 chapels. Working there are 15 Franciscans, some lay brothers and 12 Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament of Bertinoro. There are 38 catechists, 63 teachers and 22 baptizers. The Catholic schools number 7 for boys and 8 for girls.
In 1948, with part of the territory of the said Apostolic Vicariate, the Apostolic Vicariate of Paraguayan Chaco (v.) was erected.