Two motors to support pastoral work in Guapi
The Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi lies in the far south-west of Colombia, near the Pacific Ocean. The population here is mainly a mixture of Afro-Colombians and Indigenous Peoples. 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 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the National Army of Colombia. 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 around 10,000 km² 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 ageing riverboat which served as his sole means of transport for his pastoral visits. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we were able to provide $40,627.50. 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.
