Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Guatemala is divided into 12 diocese and 2 Apostolic Vicariates, one of which is the Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal, that depends on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Its Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Gabriel Peñate Rodriguez granted an interview with Agenzia Fides during his recent “Ad Limina Apostolorum” visit (see Fides 7/3/2008). He describes the main characteristics and challenges of his Vicariate.
What are the main characteristics and challenges in the Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal?
The Apostolic Vicariate of Izabal has been in existence for 40 years, 20 as an Apostolic Administration, and 20 as Apostolic Vicariate. One of the main challenges of this vicariate is the culture, as there are three distinct cultures. It is the only province in Guatemala with natives, those of African origin, and latins. This is a great wealth, but also a great challenge. We must work to be respectful of the peoples that we evangelize, making them feel welcomed by the Church, accepting their good qualities, and having the courage to correct whatever does not correspond to the Gospel.
In this zone, as well, we also face the challenge of the large ranches and the issue of land properties. The majority of the people do not have land to cultivate, and this sometimes provokes the poor to take over areas of land that belong to the government. In fact, just before my coming to Rome, there was an uprising of 40 communities who united in demand for land and even took 29 police officers hostage, in hopes that the government would hear them and do something to give them land access.
Then there’s the problem of narcotics trafficking. The geographic location of the Vicariate of Izabal on the coast, between Beliz and Honduras, contributes to making it an area more susceptible to narcotics trafficking. We believe it is a hub for the ringleaders of trafficking in Guatemala. Thanks to them, we are left almost completely without authority, as they are the ones in control, along with their armed bands that protect them. They also contribute to the problem of land properties for the poorer classes, as they quickly buy up the cheaper land and use threat tactics to dominate the people.
As far as the Church is concerned, our main problem are always the sects that continue to flourish throughout the country. The lack of priests that can sufficiently meet the needs of the people, is another contributing factor in the rapid spread of sects.
What are the main characteristics of the Church in the Vicariate of Izabal?
We could say that the Church there is alive. Right now, we still have very few priests, although there are many vocations. This is always a blessing for the Vicariate, although it also implies an economic challenge in maintaining the seminary, something which surpasses our possibilities. We currently have 23 major seminarians, 20 minor seminarians, as well as many vocations to the religious life, mostly in feminine branches. A monastery was recently founded in our Vicariate, by the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament and Immaculate Mary. They are a Spanish contemplative order that, faced with the vocations shortage in Europe, decided to go and found a convent there in America, in order to strengthen the Church of Latin America and allow young women to follow their vocation there. They already have 15 vocations.
Another characteristic of our Church is that we have many active and committed lay members. The Church is thriving, thanks to the generous collaboration of over 2,000 catechists that work to meet the spiritual needs of the rural communities, because the Vicariate is mostly composed of rural areas, with very few cities.
The Church is also a martyrial church. We have 23 martyrs and have already begun the beatification process of a priest and several catechists. We are already at the close of the diocesan phase of the process, and in July we hope to present all the paper work.
In spite of the shortages of personnel and material means, does the Vicariate of Izabal see itself committed to the Mission?
Certainly. In Izabal, we are ready and willing to join in on the effort for the Great Continental Mission. It has been a decision of the entire continent, and I think that we are all committed to making it happen. Right now, we are awaiting indications from the CELAM, to see how we can support the mission. The most important and immediate work is spreading the Document from Aparecida, because we cannot reach the people if we are ignorant as to its content. In all the diocese and parishes, there are currently study courses on the Aparecida Document underway, with precisely this in mind.
Our Vicariate also has the great joy of celebrating, in 2009, the Third Guatemalan Mission Congress. We have already begun preparations and there is a lot of enthusiasm. For awhile now, two missionary symbols have been travelling through all the towns and parishes: the missionary Cross and the image of Immaculate Mary, our Patroness, in preparation for the Congress. The visits will end shortly prior to the celebration of the Congress, which is scheduled to take place in September or October 2009. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2008; righe 74, parole 867)
