The diocesan seminary has been popular since its founding in 1980: it has produced 500 priests in total, despite increasing violence against priests in Colombia. Today, at least 200 alums of Sonson-Rionegro work as missionaries in 18 countries; the bishop receives letters from all over the world, asking that he send his priests to underserved parishes.
Honduras is the second-largest country in Central America and one of its most dangerous, plagued by robberies, abductions, gang warfare, and drug cartels. Social and political inequalities are glaring, and about 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Many of its citizens dream of leaving.
Almost 20 years ago, a Carmelite convent was founded just outside of Florida, a city in southern Uruguay. Twelve Carmelite sisters live there today, practicing perpetual prayer in accordance with the rule of their foundress, St. Teresa of Avila. The community continues to attract young women, who are interested in its atmosphere of holiness and the life of prayer.
The “Bethlehem Mission” (Missao Belem) is a lay spiritual community of people who devote themselves to caring for the homeless, drug addicts, the lonely and all those facing a crisis or some difficult situation.
The Order of the Visitation Sisters was founded in 1610 by Saint Francis of Sales and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal. Also known as the Salesian Sisters, they live a contemplative life of prayer in enclosure. At the same time, many are also involved in spiritual accompaniment and education.