SANT'ANDREA and PROVIDENZA, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. - It is situated in the Caribbean Sea to the east of Nicaragua and comprises the islands of St Andrew, Providence, and Santa Catalina.
It was erected as a mission sui iuris by a decree of the Sacred Consistorial Congregation on 20 June 1912 and entrusted to the Mill Hill Society, and on 20 May 1926 to the Capuchins. On 14 November 1946 it was raised to the status of a prefecture. It has an area of approximately 52,000 sq km with approximately 7,000 inhabitants, of whom about 1,750 are Catholic and 2,630 Protestant. There are 5 priests, 20 sisters, 2 parishes, 3 primary stations, 5 secondary stations, 16 elementary schools, and 1 middle school.
BIBL.: MC, 1950, pp. 43-44.