UDONTHANI, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE — Established by dismemberment apostolic vicariate of Tharé (v.), on 7 May 1953; it comprises the civil departments of Leui, Mongkhai, and Udon.
It has a total area of 37,000 sq. km., with a population of 1,248,811 inhabitants. It has been entrusted to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, whose American fathers from the Oakland province have been in Thailand since May 1948. Named after the city of U., which is the most central in the area and the best supplied with means of communication, it numbers approximately 3,000 Catholics.
At present, five Redemptorists are engaged in the field, while two others are outside the mission studying the Siamese language. In this territory, six Christian communities have been organized, each with a church or chapel and accommodation for the missionary.