Bolivia Mission Collection

Collection

Identifier: MB

Scope and Contents

See more See less

Bolivia Missions Collection documents the missionary, administrative, educational, and pastoral activities of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great in Bolivia from 1956 to 2025, with the bulk of the records dating from the establishment of the Bolivian Vicariate in 1962 through its elevation to an independent Vice-Province in 2013. The collection contains administrative records, correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, reports, publications, photographs, slides, audiovisual materials, and personal papers relating to the governance and ministry of the Dominican mission in Bolivia.

The records document the development of the Dominican presence in Bolivia, including the establishment of the Vicariate, the creation of the independent Vice-Province, relationships with other Dominican jurisdictions, and the administration of missionary personnel and institutions. Significant documentation includes Vicariate chapter proceedings, provincial and council records, visitation reports, financial administration records, formation programs and educational materials, and records of Dominican apostolates throughout Bolivia

The collection is arrainged into 10 series. The first series covers foundational material, subseries for pre-vicaraite, establishment of Vicariate and Vice-Province, and German vicariate materials. The second series contains Vicariate Chapters from 1969 - 2011. The third series is the Vicariate Provincial Records and contains correspondence and other materials of the Vicariate Provincials from 1962 to 2013. The fourth series is the Vicariate Council Records and contains Vicariate Council Minutes, Assemblies, and Vicariate Visitations from the Prior Provincial and various curia officials, including the Master of the Order. The dates range in this series from 1964 to 2012. The Fifth series is the Vicariate Officials Records which contains subseries for Syndic, Formation, and Affiliate positions performed by friars. These include financial records and correspondence for the Vicariate from the office of the syndic, formation records and Ratios for the vocation promoter pre-novice, novice, and student masters and Director of Education position. The affiliated materials is limited to CIDAL (Conferencia Interprovincial de los Dominicos de América Latina) conventions and assemblies and the IV Dominican Colloquiom of 1993. Following this is Vicariate House Records series. Within this series, each city with a foundation is treated as a subseries (i.e. Cochabamba and Santa Cruz) with the foundations separated numerically. These records include canonical and ministerial foundations, ministry and house correspondece, commemorative booklets, and other materials. The Apostolate Records series contians materials related to vicariate apostolates that were not limited to a single house. They include "Misiones Aviones" that were missionary actions in the Campos around the Andes and Peace and Justice Commission records. The largest subseries is the IBEAS records. The Instituto Boliviano de Estudios y Acción Social (IBEAS) records including administrative files, reports, publications, photographs, promotional materials, and a substantial run of IBEAS journals. The collection also documents missionary outreach programs, social justice initiatives, and pastoral ministriesof the Dominicans across South America. The largest series in the Missionary Records. These contain files and correspondence relating to missionary friars, Bolivian members of the Order, and affiliated Dominicans across thethe mission's development. These exist in addition to the Personal File Records.

There are two additional series for the photos and slides, and AV material, respectively.

The collection comprises 16 linear feet, including 25 legal and letter document boxes, 24" of hanging file folders, 3 photo boxes, 3 slide carrousels, and one oversized flat box.

Dates

Creation: 1956 - 2025

Mission History

See more See less

The Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great began missionary work in Bolivia in 1956 when Fr. Peter Houlihan, O.P., of the Chicago-based province and Fr. Athanasius Van Noenen, O.P., of the Dominican Province of Germany arrived in La Paz. The mission initially focused on university ministry, seminary education, rural missions, and pastoral outreach. Dominican friars assumed administration of the Major Seminary of La Paz in 1958 and conducted missionary work among students, workers, and rural populations throughout the country. In the 1950s and early 1960s, Dominican work concentrated in La Paz, where the friars directed the Major Seminary (1958–1962), founded the Centro Universitario de Santo Tomás de Aquino for university ministry, and initiated "flying missions" (misiones volantes) in rural areas around the capital. The establishment of the Centro San Martín de Porres in Cochabamba in 1961 created a secondary hub for university and youth apostolate.

In 1962, the mission was formally organized as the Vicariate of Bolivia of the Province of St. Albert the Great, co-existing in the country alongside the Vicariate of St. Louis Bertrand of the German Dominican Friars.

One of the most significant Dominican initiatives in Bolivia was the Instituto Boliviano de Estudios y Acción Social (IBEAS), founded in 1963 as a center for social research, education, and action. Supported by Dominican friars and lay professionals, IBEAS was based in the "Catholic Action" movement and studied Bolivian social conditions, published research, sponsored educational programs, and promoted Catholic social thought. The institute operated until political upheaval in 1971 when the Banzer government shut down the Institute and appropriated the building for the Ministry of Planning.

Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century the vicariate expanded its ministries in education, parish work, social justice advocacy, and charismatic preaching, founding La Mansión in Santa Cruz, an important center for charismatic spirituality that still operates.

As the number of native Bolivian friars increased and local institutions matured, efforts were made to establish greater autonomy from the Chicago province. The Vicariate of Bolivia was combined with the German Vicariate and elevated to the status of an independent Dominican Vice-Province in 2013. The new Vice-Province assumed responsibility for Dominican ministries within Bolivia but still maintains fraternal ties with the Province of St. Albert the Great.

Extent

16 Linear Feet (16 Letter Document, 8 legal document, 3 slide storage boxes, 30" of vertical hanging folders, and 3 slide carousel boxes. )

Language of Materials

English

Spanish; Castilian

Additional Description

Abstract

Records documenting the missionary, pastoral, educational, social, and administrative activities of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great in Bolivia from 1956 to 2025. Materials include correspondence, reports, chapter and council records, personnel files, financial records, publications, photographs, slides, and audiovisual materials relating to the establishment and governance of the Bolivian Vicariate, its ministries and institutions, and its transition to an independent Vice-Province in 2013. Significant documentation concerns the Instituto Boliviano de Estudios y Acción Social (IBEAS), university and youth apostolates, parish missions, Dominican formation, and the work of missionary friars throughout Bolivia.