Restless in love, the Claretian missionaries and parishioners of St. Anthony Mary Claret Parish and the Claretian Theology House of Los Chorros in Venezuela have been working tirelessly since the earthquakes struck, doing everything possible to help their neighbors. Two devastating earthquakes hit near the heart of the country’s largest metropolitan area last week, leaving widespread destruction in their wake. We are asking for your prayers and support.
Claretian Missionaries serve in two communities in the affected zones: St. Anthony Mary Claret Parish and the Claretian Theology House of Los Chorros. Both parishes have cleared away the rubble and opened their doors to those in need, offering shelter, meals, and spiritual accompaniment to individuals and families facing unimaginable loss.
We had the opportunity to talk to Claretian Missionary brother, John Jairo Flórez, CMF. who is the formation prefect at Caracas. He told us that along with hosting people in parishes and the formation house, they have been working alongside parishioners preparing food to bring to the volunteers who are working to move the debris in the most affected zones.
“This has served as a collection and distribution center. Its primary role is to receive donations. Supplies are sorted and organized as they arrive. Then, as requests come in—especially from the hardest-hit areas, including La Guaira and three or four neighborhoods here in Caracas—the aid is sent to those communities.”
He also shared that the youth groups in Claretian parishes have also been very active delivering food to the most affected zones. If you’d like to donate to the relief efforts, please use this link.
While the two Claretian parishes sustained minor damage given the severity of the earthquakes, both are now places of refuge for God’s people.
“The first response, as soon as the earthquakes struck, was to open the church. The church has a large parking area, and the parish rectory was immediately made available as temporary shelter for about 40 people, primarily families, who spent the first night there.
Most of them stayed for three nights. The number of guests is decreasing. In recent nights, only two or three families have remained as they have not yet been able to return to their homes.”
We ask you to accompany us in prayer—for those who have lost loved ones and all they had, and for the souls lost in the rubble and the families left behind.
“I believe our congregation has always understood itself as one heart and one force in mission. Our mission is to be present and stand alongside people precisely in moments like these.
As a congregation, we have a profound commitment to accompany them—a commitment that springs from the Gospel itself: to be in solidarity with those who suffer and to offer our lives, our presence, and our missionary service during these difficult times.”
Brother John Jairo Flórez, CMF
To support the Claretian relief efforts in Venezuela, please use this link. Thank you.
