NEW HEBRIDES, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF THE ISLANDS. — In southern Melanesia (to the north-east of New Caledonia), under Franco-British condominium. The territory, detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of New Caledonia, was erected into an Apostolic Prefecture on 9 February 1904 and into an Apostolic Vicariate on 22 March 1904, entrusted to the Marist Society.
The first missionaries arrived there in 1848 from New Caledonia; but effective penetration began only through the Marists in 1887, when Protestants had already occupied the entire southern part of the archipelago as far as the island of Vaté. The four missionaries, led by Fr Pionnier, settled at Porto Sandwich, Baie-Bananune (Malielo), Port-Olry (Santo) and Mélé (Vaté). The first attempts were very difficult, especially because of the savage customs of the inhabitants and the numerous secret sects.
The vicariate covers an area of 11,202 sq km, with 49,389 inhabitants, of whom 3,711 are indigenous Catholics, 827 foreigners, 3,711 Annamites, 2,144 catechumens, and 11,500 Protestants. Marist missionaries: 17; brothers: 1; sisters: 49; catechists: 54. There are 7 districts, 15 primary stations, 12 secondary stations, 9 churches, 18 chapels, 2 hospitals, 15 elementary schools, and 3 dispensaries. Various works of charity and Catholic Action.