The Circular Mission (Spanish: ''Misión circular'') was a system of missions established by the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

Chiloé Archipelago The Chiloé Archipelago ( es, Archipiélago de Chiloé, , ) is a group of islands lying off the coast of Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. It is separated from mainland Chile by the Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east an ...

. It began as an experimental mission in 1608 when various places populated by

Huilliche The Huilliche , Huiliche or Huilliche-Mapuche are the southern partiality of the Mapuche macroethnic group of Chile. Located in the Zona Sur, they inhabit both Futahuillimapu ("great land of the south") and, as the Cunco subgroup, the north h ...

s and Spaniards in the archipelago were visited in a series of voyages during spring and summer. At each stop the Jesuits usually preached for three days before continuing the journey to the next stop. In 1617 the mission was formalized as permanent but continued to be carried out as a series of visits to populated places returning every year to the same locations. During winter the Jesuit missionaries stayed in Castro. The Jesuits are reported to have established 77

chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common typ ...

s by 1755.

References

History of Chiloé Religion in Chiloé Spanish missions in Chile Jesuit history in South America Jesuit missions {{chile-stub

See also

References