GOAJIRA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. - The Capuchins of the regular province of Valencia in Spain began in 1693, in Colombia, the mission of G., Sierra Nevada and Montilones, establishing there 20 Christian communities. The War of Independence at the beginning of the last century interrupted the missionary work, which was resumed only in 1887 at the initiative of the Bishop of Santa Marta, on whose territory it lay, recalling the Spanish Capuchins who arrived there on 7 January 1888.
The apostolic vicariate was erected on 17 January 1905 by decree of the Sacred Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, and to it were annexed the two provinces of Padilla and Valledupar by decree of 11 November 1906 of the Apostolic Delegate of Colombia, approved by the Sacred Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs. It is entrusted to the Capuchins and has an area of 46,000 sq. km. Priests 18, brothers 9, nuns 71, catechists 84. The population is ca. 126,547, of whom 113,014 Catholics, 33 catechumens, 160 Protestants, 13,340 pagans; 13 parishes, 3 primary stations, 59 secondary stations, 6 dispensaries, 9 orphanages with 175 boys and 310 girls, 20 elementary schools with 836 pupils, 4 secondary schools with 270 pupils. The printing press publishes two periodicals.