Ghardaia in the Sahara, Apostolic Vicariate of

GHARDAIA IN THE SAHARA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - It originated from the apostolic prefecture of Sahara and Sudan, created on 6 Aug. 1868 by detachment from the apostolic vicariate of Central Africa, which then in 1913 took the name of Khartoum. The aforementioned prefecture was elevated to an apostolic vicariate in 1891, and on 19 July 1901 the apostolic prefecture of G. was detached from its territory, and the apostolic vicariate of Sahara and Sudan then took the name of apostolic vicariate of Sahara in French Sudan, which in 1921 was divided into the apostolic vicariates of Bamako and Ouagadougou. In 1928 and 1947 the apostolic prefecture had boundary adjustments with the dioceses of Oran, Algiers and Constantine. By decree of 10 Jan. 1921 it received its present name, and on 10 June 1948 it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate.

It comprises almost the entire territory of the south and extends for the most part into the Sahara. It is entrusted to the White Fathers. It has a territory exceeding 2,120,000 sq km. The population exceeds 982,235 inhabitants, of whom 963,434 are Muslims, 8,124 Jews, 171 Protestants, 79 indigenous Catholics, 10,187 foreigners, 325 of mixed stock, 5 catechumens. Parishes 4, primary stations 9 and secondary stations 27. Priests 44, brothers 6, sisters 128. There are 8 elementary schools with 1,169 pupils and 20 vocational schools with 1,643 pupils. The apostolate is very difficult because the population is entirely Muslim.

Saverio Paventi