MENDEZ, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. – Situated in the eastern region of the Republic of Ecuador. It also included the area of Gualaquiza; but this was detached from it by decree of 12 April 1951, because, as a result of the determination of the boundary between Ecuador and Peru, it came to lie in Peruvian territory.
Until that date, M. and Gualaquiza had a common history. The Capuchins first penetrated there (1622), and in 1638 they were joined by the Jesuits, who established a mission along the Río Marañón. When the latter, owing to their expulsion from the territories of the Spanish Crown, were forced to abandon the flourishing mission, which had also been bathed in the blood of religious, they were replaced by several secular priests, sent first by the bishop of Chachapoyas (Peru) and later, following the outbreak of the revolution, by the bishops of Loja, Cuenca, and Quito (Ecuador). After various political difficulties had been overcome, on 17 February 1893 the Vicariate of M. and Gualaquiza was erected and entrusted to the Salesians of S. G. Bosco. But as early as 1895 the revolution dealt the new mission a very severe blow; nevertheless, the Salesians remained there. The difficulties were so numerous that, over the course of 20 years, the apostolic vicar succeeded in penetrating there only twice, and almost surreptitiously. In 1914 the mission was on the point of becoming extinct, but, chiefly through the intervention of the bishop of Cuenca, the apostolic vicar was able to gain free access to II. The Indians of the territory, approximately 12,000, are wild “Jivaros,” always
(courtesy of the Salesian Fathers)
According to the data for 1950, the population was 26,117, of whom 16,409 were Catholics and 1,900 catechumens; the remainder were pagans. There were 11 principal stations and 24 secondary ones; 10 churches and 25 chapels. Working there were 19 foreign priests and 2 nationals, 19 coadjutor brothers, 32 sisters, 40 catechists, and 56 teachers. There were 32 elementary schools and 4 vocational schools. Charitable institutions: 6 dispensaries, 4 hospitals, and 10 orphanages.