SOUTHERN SOLOMONS, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF THE ISLANDS. – It forms part of central Melanesia.
On 27 July 1897, the Apostolic Prefecture of the British Solomon Islands was erected, detached from the Apostolic Vicariate of New Pomerania (now the Apostolic Vicariate of Rabaul [v.]) and administered for three years by the Apostolic Vicar of the Fiji Islands. It received its present designation on 21 January 1904 and was elevated to an Apostolic Vicariate on 1 January 1912. It is entrusted to the Marists.
The area of the Islands is approximately 24,000 sq. km., with a population of approximately 88,000 inhabitants, of whom approximately 17,000 are Catholics, approximately 30,400 Protestants, and an equal number pagans. The missionaries number 24, the brothers 9, and the sisters 54. There is a minor seminary. Catechists: 254. The shortage
of personnel has so far restricted the apostolate to the islands of Guadalcanal, Malaita, and S. Christoval.