Two Outboard Motors for a Pastoral Riverboat in Colombia

The apostolic vicariate of Guapi lies in southwestern Colombia, on the Pacific coast. The population here is mainly a mixture of Afro-Colombians and indigenous people. There is extreme poverty and widespread violence, and ever since the 1980s, illegal drug growing and trafficking have flourished, taking advantage of the strategic coastal position as an import and export point. The region has also, for decades, been the theatre of violent confrontations between the FARC guerrilla movement and the Colombian National Army. As recently as November 2024, the bishop’s house and curial offices were partly destroyed by the blast of a bomb explosion, following an attack on a nearby police station.  

The vicariate covers a region of nearly 4,000 square miles and is largely covered by tropical rainforest. There are few roads, and most places are accessible only by river. There are just 19 priests here ministering to approximately 150,000 Catholic faithful. 

The bishop urgently asked our help to purchase two outboard motors for the aging riverboat that served him as his sole means of transport for his pastoral visits. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to give him the $30,611 required. This has massively improved the pastoral work within the vicariate and they have now written to thank you: “Thanks to your help, we have been able to commission and bless this boat, and it will be an immense help to us in bringing the Gospel to all the people of this region.” 

Our sincerest thanks to all of you for your help.  

214-08-29