KEEWATIN, Apostolic Vicariate of (Canada). - It was erected by the Sacred Congregation of the Consistory on 4 March 1910 with territory detached from the archdiocese of St. Boniface. It comprises almost the entire northern part of the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
In the western part of the vicariate is found the oldest mission of the Canadian north-west, that of Ile-à-la Crosse, founded in 1846 by Fr. Alexandre A. Taché (1823-94) and by Abbé Flèche, two future bishops, who spent all their energies on the conversion of the Metis, Cree, Montagnais and Canadian adventurers. The eastern part, on the other hand, was completely abandoned until the erection of the vicariate, because of the hostility shown to the entry of missionaries by the agents of the Hudson's Bay Company, who did not want any religion other than Protestantism to be preached. Gradually, however, as the power of that Company declined, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, to whom the mission is entrusted, were able to found the first missionary station at Chesterfield Inlet, and within a few years they administered the first baptisms, to which others were later added on the occasion of the entry of the first apostolic vicar (1912). Progress was constant, and today out of a population of 29,305 inhabitants there are 10,000 Catholics grouped in 27 primary and 26 secondary stations, each of which has its own church or chapel. The O.M.I. fathers number 41, assisted by 30 brothers and 130 sisters. The works of charity are distributed as follows: 3 hospitals with 185 beds, 2 orphanages with 154 places and 6 pharmacies with an average of 3,500 consultations a year. The apostolic work is hard because of the great extent of the territory (550,000 sq km), the harshness of the climate and the intense Protestant propaganda; the zeal of the missionaries, however, succeeds in obtaining continual converts to the Catholic faith.
Bibliography4 works
Antonio Mazza
el-KEF: v. SICCA VENERIA.