Guajira, Apostolic Vicariate of

GUAJIRA, 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 and established 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 on the initiative of the bishop of S. Marta, on whom the territory depended, recalling there the Spanish Capuchins who arrived on 7 Jan. 1888.

The apostolic vicariate was erected on 17 Jan. 1905 by decree of the S. Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs, and to it were annexed the two provinces of Padilla and Valledupar by decree of 11 Nov. 1906 of the apostolic delegate of Colombia, approved by the S. Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs. It is entrusted to the Capuchins and has an area of 46,000 sq km. Priests 18, brothers 9, sisters 71, catechists 84. The population is about 126,547, of whom 113,014 are Catholics, 33 catechumens, 160 Protestants, 13,340 pagans, 13 parishes, 3 primary stations, 59 secondary, 6 dispensaries, 9 orphanages with 175 boys and 310 girls, 20 elementary schools with 836 pupils, 4 higher schools with 270 pupils. The printing press publishes two periodicals.

Saverio Paventi