VILLAVICENCIO, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - It is situated in the eastern regions of Colombia and comprises the least explored areas.
Missionary work in the Intendency of S. Martino yielded good results from 1903 to 1906, whereas the attempts made in 1907-1908 in the Central Intendency proved unsuccessful. On 23 June 1903 the apostolic prefecture of the Eastern Intendency was erected, and on 18 Jan. 1904 that of the Intendency of S. Martino, separating it from the archdiocese of Bogotá. On 28 Apr. 1908 the two prefectures were united and formed the apostolic vicariate of the Plains of S. Martino, entrusted to the Missionary Priests of the Company of Mary (Monfortians). On 9 June 1949, following the creation MITRA (v.), it received the name of V.
It has an area of 190,710 sq. km., with 130,000 inhabitants, of whom 10,000 are pagans and the others Catholics. Missionaries 25, brothers 20, sisters 30, catechists 90. Quasi-parishes 11, stations 12; churches 11, chapels 19. Elementary schools 77, secondary schools 3, vocational schools 1, orphanages 3.