Venezuela: ACN calls for prayers, sends support after devestating earthquakes
The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is calling for prayers for the people of Venezuela, after two strong earthquakes on Wednesday caused fatalities, injuries, and serious material damage, and left thousands of people afraid to return to their homes.
ACN is sending emergency and long-term aid to the Church in Venezuela, which it has long considered a priority country.
Shortly after 6 P.M. on June 24, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck. Just 39 seconds later, a second quake hit, with magnitude 7.5. Among the many buildings that were destroyed or seriously damaged were numerous churches, parish houses, and Church institutions.
At the same time, many Church institutions have opened their doors to welcome families who cannot return to their homes.
Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo, S.D.B., of Caracas toured the affected parishes for hours to personally assess the situation: “I have just returned from a tour of several parishes. Many of them have serious structural damage,” the archbishop told ACN.
According to Archbishop Biord, among the most affected are the Cathedral of Caracas and about a dozen other churches, although the communication difficulties caused by power and Internet cuts still make it impossible to know the full extent of the damage. “In Ñauralí, the roof of the right nave fell in. The church and the parish house of Pagüita collapsed. The parish priest was miraculously saved,” he added.
The Diocese of La Guaira has also been seriously affected. In communication with ACN, Bishop Pablo Modesto González Pérez, S.B.D., of La Guaira explained that the diocesan seminary, supported annually by ACN, has been seriously damaged by the earthquake.
“We are without electricity and we have all been affected,” the bishop told ACN. “In the seminary, many walls collapsed. Now, we are in the parking lot of the sports stadium, waiting for the firefighters to evaluate the building to find out what we are going to do. Thank God there have been no serious problems with the priests, although several churches have suffered significant damage.”
Bishop González said that two buildings in front of the seminary collapsed. “We have just returned from visiting Ciudad Chávez, where ACN supported the construction of the church. There is a population of about 20,000 people, where most of the housing blocks have suffered serious damage,” he said. “Thank God they did not collapse.”
“God help us!”
Although no casualties have been reported among priests, deacons, seminarians, or religious sisters, Archbishop Biord confirmed that there have been fatalities in different places due to the collapse of buildings and walls. The archbishop of Caracas also pointed out that the human toll could have been much worse: “Thank God it was a day off. If it had been a weekday, with schools, offices, and shops open, the number of victims would have been much higher.”
June 24, in addition to being the Solemnity of St. John the Baptist, is a national holiday in Venezuela, celebrating a key victory in 1821 in the country’s war for independence.
Despite the damage, the Church has already activated its emergency response: “Many parishes have received people to spend the night in their facilities. We have already activated a solidarity network through the parish Caritas. From tomorrow, inspections will be carried out to determine which temples can be reopened. May God help us and grant us the necessary consolation to accompany our people in these difficult times.”
ACN remains in permanent contact with the local Church while the assessment of the damage and the most urgent needs continue. Archbishop Biord thanked ACN for their accompaniment and prayers.
ACN International’s Director of Projects, Marco Mencaglia, stressed the importance of remaining close to the Venezuelan Church at this time.
“Venezuela has been a priority country for our charity for many years. The priority now is the people. The Church is doing what it has always done in times of crisis: opening its doors, accompanying those who have lost everything and bringing hope where fear has settled. We ask all our benefactors and friends to keep Venezuela in their prayers,” Mencaglia said.
“We do not yet know the full extent of the damage,” he concluded. “As communications are restored and technical inspections progress, we will be able to better understand the needs of the Church and the communities it serves. On the part of ACN, we are committed to continue accompanying the Church in these difficult times with our help and prayers.”
– Maria Lozano
