FIUME MADDALENA, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. — The mission is situated in the northwestern regions of the Republic of Colombia and encompasses the entire territory extending along the right bank of the F. M. It was erected as an apostolic prefecture in 1928 by detachment from the dioceses of
S. Marta, Pamplona, Socorro, S. Gil, and entrusted to the Jesuits of the province of Colombia. By decree of 18 Apr. 1950 it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate under the title of Barrancabermeja.
The territory was formerly sparsely populated because of the frequent flooding to which it is subject; the number of inhabitants increased with the installation of oil wells by American industrial companies. Communications are poor: there is only one railway line, running from Puerto Wilches to Bucaramanga; the rest of the country is crossed by mule tracks. During the hot seasons the region is often infested by small insects that cause dangerous malarial fevers, treated by primitive methods and with lemon water, the fruit being very abundant in that area. The population consists for the most part of Blacks, descendants of Africans brought to Colombia, who live in a highly primitive manner, supporting themselves by hunting and fishing. They have a very lively faith: they take their children to be baptized at the cost of long journeys, and they themselves baptize the sick when in danger of death. In times of danger they invoke God, the Madonna, and the patron saints. Some, known as «rezanderos», possess the power to cure illnesses resulting from snakebites by reciting particular prayers and making simple signs of the cross.
The mission’s statistical data may be summarized as follows: total population 49,780, of whom 49,344 are Catholics, 424 Protestants, 8 Jews, and 4 Muslims. In 1948 there were 6 baptisms of adults and 2,453 baptisms of children. Personnel: 6 Colombian priests, 6 foreign priests; 10 brothers; 20 nuns; 34 male and 56 female catechists; 27 male and 65 female teachers. Quasi-parishes 5, churches 16, chapels 17. Elementary schools 1. Press: printing presses 1; periodicals: La Hijra del Hogar, with 2,000 copies.
(photo: Esti)