During the first years of the colony the spiritual labour was carried out by Mercedarians and Franciscans. The first Jesuits arrived in 1608 and founded in 1612 the first church in Castro. Because of the scattered population living in different islands the Jesuits established a "circular mission" system with numerous chapels and churches. The priests of the circular mission travelled from September to May to the scattered missions using dalcas. The Jesuits established a collegium in 1660 in Castro. By 1767 when the Society of Jesus was suppressed there were 13 Jesuit missioners and 79 chapels. From 1771 onwards the Franciscans took over the functions of the Jesuits in Chiloé.