Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Bishop Pablo Ervin Schmitz Simon, Apostolic Vicar of Bluefields (Nicaragua), describes the main characteristics and challenges of his Vicariate in an interview with Agenzia Fides during his time in Rome, participating in the formation seminar organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, for Bishops ordained in the last two years. The Vicariate of Bluefields has 60,000 km sq., which is about nearly half of the country of Nicaragua, says Bishop Pablo, as the country has 130,000 km sq. (subtracting two large lakes). The Bishop says that one of the main problems is the lack of roads, which makes travelling difficult. “Many times we have to visit some parishes in a small plane, and for others we use Jeeps. Other times, when we have to go to places in the mountains and administer the sacraments, we have to use mules.” The Prelate explained that it was precisely due to this lack of road systems that he was unable to be ordained a Bishop in his Diocese, as it is only accessible by plane or parachute. He was ordained a Bishop in 1984, in a war-torn Nicaragua, and thus, “it was impossible for the three Bishops who came to reach my Diocese. So, we had to hold the ceremony in a parish situated where the road meets the river.”
“The great challenge we are facing,” he said, “is the lack of priests. For example, we have a priest who is 78 years old who has 112 rural communities in his care and many of them can only be reached by horse or mule. Twice a year he celebrates Mass in these communities. Thus, with this shortage of priests, we must rely many times on extraordinary ministers. There is also a lack of parishes, however for now it is not worth creating more parishes if the number of priests does not grow.”
“When I arrived in Nicaragua, nearly 36 years ago, there were 36 Franciscan missionaries from North America. Now there are only three, excluding two Bishops. The population then was 150,000 inhabitants. Now there are nearly 800,000 inhabitants, 70% of whom are Catholics.” With these increase in population and the lack of priests, the Bishop observes the great dilemma presented by the sects. “In those places where there is no parish established, we always try to have Ministers of the Word. But, in these places, the sects and the Evangelicals and Pentecostals enter, and it is usually in an effort to ruin and defame the Catholic Church.”
In the Apostolic Vicariate, there is a numerous group of the indigenous population that is attended by two priests who work in an area of 300 km. “One of them studied spirituality here in Rome in order to familiarize himself well with Western spirituality and in this way, perform a work of integration with the natural spirituality of the indigenous peoples, which implies maintaining what is compatible and purifying it of whatever is not.”
However, in spite of these difficulties and challenges, the Apostolic Vicariate of Bluefields is hopeful. It has a minor seminary, which is an important step on the road to the major seminary. As the Bishop explains, “we try to have them learn Spanish well, as it is the official language in the major seminary. Many of these boys come from indigenous towns and do not know the language well and later on, find trouble in their studies. Then there are boys that come from rural and rudimentary areas and we have to teach them even the most basic skills and how to live in community.” Right now, the minor seminary of the Vicariate has 37 seminarians, 12 of whom are discerning this year whether to pass on to the major seminary. “There is a lot of hope and we already have 20 young men in the major seminary. Our seminaries in Nicaragua are full. There are over 200 major seminarians in all the dioceses combined.”
As for the Year of Saint Paul, Bishop Schmitz says that the Vicariate is trying to live the Year with intensity, as “being in mission territory makes us feel like close disciples of St. Paul. We have done courses on Saint Paul for the Ministers of the Word, for the catechists.” He also mentions the importance of their awareness as missionary church, ready to be sent beyond their borders in spite of being a Church in the missions. For example, the Vicariate already has a priest who has been working as missionary in the Diocese of Amarillo (Texas) for three years, with Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Mexicans. “There is a great enthusiasm, not only among the priests and religious, but also among the Ministers of the Word, to live this Year of St. Paul, which is so important.”
Lastly, he referred to the importance of the Great Continental Mission which will be officially launched in Nicaragua this December. On this day, all the Bishops will join in doing the missionary sending to all the diocese. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/9/2008)
