The Colombian church brings learnings from Venezuela to support communities affected by the earthquake in Colombia

The Venezuelan Church’s response to the June 24 earthquake offers the Colombian Church lessons for strengthening its pastoral and humanitarian support in the wake of the August 10 earthquake.

Between August 13 and 17, representatives of the Colombian Episcopal Conference (CEC) visited communities in La Guaira, Caracas, and Valencia to listen to their experiences, learn about their needs, and spend time with those who have continued to provide pastoral support in the wake of the earthquake.

The visit had been planned before the earthquake in Colombia, but the new emergency gave the meeting a different meaning: two sister churches sharing experiences of support in the midst of grief. This was noted by the press office of the Colombian episcopate.

The delegation consisted of Monsignor Francisco Javier Múnera Correa, Archbishop of Cartagena and president of the CEC; Father Raúl Ortiz Toro, deputy secretary of the organization; and Father Nelson Ortiz, representing Caritas Colombia.

The tour allowed the Colombian delegation to see firsthand the situation in the communities, the damage sustained by some churches, and the efforts in pastoral care and solidarity that the Venezuelan Church has carried out since the earthquake.

His contact with the communities led Monsignor Múnera to emphasize a response that goes beyond simply addressing the emergency. The president of the CEC acknowledged the suffering caused by the earthquake and, at the same time, the strength of a Church that, in his words, has been able to “encourage and sustain faith, hope, and charity.”

Father Raúl Ortiz Toro shared a message of solidarity with the Venezuelan communities on behalf of the Colombian Church and Caritas Colombia. His words, inspired by Psalm 27, focused on the need to maintain trust and hope in the midst of suffering.

“We send a message of solidarity to all our Venezuelan brothers and sisters,” said the priest, who also asked for prayers for those who have died and for those who continue to participate in rescue efforts and in caring for the survivors.

The priest extended his message to the realities facing both countries today and expressed his hope that, amid the difficulties, Colombia and Venezuela would keep hope alive: “May the Lord grant that hope never wane among our brotherly peoples of Colombia and Venezuela.”

In the face of the suffering caused by the earthquake, the Venezuelan Church has responded with a simple motto: “After the quake, love.” For Father Nelson Ortiz, the phrase expresses the commitment not to leave communities on their own and to make closeness a concrete form of solidarity.

“It sums up very well our intention in being here after the earthquake—the love expressed through closeness,” he said. What was observed during the tour offers concrete examples of how the Church can combine solidarity, organization, and pastoral care to stand with communities during an emergency and their subsequent recovery.

The lessons learned in Venezuela take on special significance in the Colombian context. Following the delegation’s return, the various ecclesiastical jurisdictions continue to support the communities affected by the August 10 earthquake, in coordination with the Permanent Secretariat of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference and the National Secretariat for Social Ministry—Caritas Colombia.

The work of the Colombian Church involves identifying the most urgent needs, coordinating aid, and providing pastoral and social support to affected communities. These efforts, coordinated by Monsignor Germán Medina Acosta, secretary general of the CEC, aim to maintain a close presence throughout the recovery process.

Two earthquakes, two towns, and a shared experience of solidarity have brought the Churches of Colombia and Venezuela even closer together. The gathering provided valuable lessons and, above all, the certainty that solidarity can become a tangible presence for those facing suffering and seeking to rebuild their lives.Subscribe for free to our Whatsapp channel https://bit.ly/4hbWWN0

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