COOK, Apostolic Vicariate of the Islands. — The evangelization of the Cook Islands began in 1894 through the efforts of the Picpusians, hindered by Protestants who had settled there since 1821. The first church was blessed in Avura on 25 December 1896.
The mission was interrupted during the World War of 1914–18. Until 1922, the Cook Islands were part of the Apostolic Vicariate of the Tahitian Islands, from which they were detached on 27 November of that year to form the Apostolic Prefecture of the Cook and Manihiki Islands. This prefecture took its current name on 11 August 1926 and was elevated to an Apostolic Vicariate on 12 February 1948.
Out of a population of approximately 15,000, Catholics number 1,377, catechumens 28, and the rest are almost all Protestants. There are 21 catechists. There are 9 primary stations and 6 secondary stations. In the 6 elementary schools, 425 pupils are educated. The periodical *Torea* is printed there with a circulation of 500 copies. Communism is also stirring in those islands. After the last war, emigration to New Zealand has resulted in the loss of many Catholics.