HOLLANDIA, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. — Located in Dutch New Guinea or Irian. It was erected on 12 May 1949, with territory taken from the Apostolic Vicariate of Dutch New Guinea (now Ambonia), comprising the northern, central, and western regions, according to a boundary line extending from the borders of Australian Papua to the Gulf of Etna and from there, across the sea, to include the islands of Ternate, Tidore, Halmahera, Badjan, and Morota, which are part of the Moluccan archipelago. On 24 June 1950, the aforementioned islands were detached and reattached to the Apostolic Vicariate of Ambonia.
The mission of H. is entrusted to the Franciscan Friars Minor of the Seraphic Province of Holland, who began missionary work there in 1935. It covers an area of 200,000 sq. km. and has a population of approximately 290,000 inhabitants. There are 3,260 Catholics; 516 catechumens; 20 foreign priests; 3 foreign lay brothers; 13 foreign sisters; 48 catechists; 57 teachers; 49 elementary schools; 1 vocational school; 11 primary stations and 34 secondary stations; 3 churches; 47 chapels; and one orphanage. H. is the residence city of the Ordinary and also the seat of the civil governor of New Guinea.