Venezuela Mission Partnership History
Our longest standing archdiocesan partnership is with the Diocese of Ciudad Guayana in Venezuela. In 1970, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis began a mission in the Diocese of Ciudad Guayana inspired from Pope Pius XII’s call to the North American Church to assist the Church of Latin America and the Caribbean. Over the past five decades, many priests from the archdiocese have served in various parishes and capacities in the Venezuelan Church.
The first missionary priests from the Archdiocese worked at the parish of Virgin Del Valle (Virgin of the Valley Parish) in Puerto Ordaz and eventually the priests added a second parish at Buen Pastor (Good Shepherd Parish) in San Felix. Soon after, the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls came to the Venezuelan Mission to share their gifts as educators, health care providers and community builders. Over time, the Mission handed over these parishes to Venezuelan pastors and began again in the parishes of San Francisco and, lastly, Jesucristo Resucitado (JCR). Since the late 1990’s, the mission has focused its efforts in this last parish in the city of San Felix.
The parish of Jesucristo Resucitado is comprised of 11 different barrios or distinct neighborhoods with an estimated 65,000 people. This part of Venezuela has endured decades of high unemployment giving rise to violence, food insecurity, addiction, and human trafficking. At the parish of Jesucristo Resucitado, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis responds to the spiritual, physical, and social needs of the people.
The Venezuelan Mission Partnership Today
Today, Jesucristo Resucitado Parish has a beautiful church, parish center and barrio chapel centers where Mass, sacraments, religious education, and social ministries happen regularly. The parish runs a daily soup kitchen that prepares hundreds of meals for mostly children and elderly. The parish also collaborates with others to provide a home for abandoned and homeless children. They provide health services, vocational training opportunities and pathways for young people to participate in Church life, worship, and service. In spite of rampant poverty, social and political unrest and uncertainty, the Venezuelan Mission remains anchored in the lives of the people and trusting in God’s providence as they go forth to proclaim and serve the Gospel in Venezuela.
For more information on the Venezuelan Mission Partnership, contact…
