TWENTY of Laos' 50 mission parishes were within the areas occupied by the Communist Pathet Lao forces as a cease-fire in Laos was called for by Britain and the Soviet Union.
The 50 parishes have 122 secondary mission stations attached to them. Sixteen parishes in areas controlled by the Communist Pathet Lao forces were in the Vientiane apostolic vicariate, which includes the north and west of Laos. Four were in the Thakhek apostolic vicariate, A French missionary, Fr. Louis Leroy. 0.M.1., was reportedly taken prisoner when Pathet Lao forces captured the village in Xieng Khouang province where his mission is located. French authorities have requested his release.