Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Panama (Agenzia Fides) - The mission of Jesus Obrero de Tolé, in Panama, was founded in 1969 by the Augustinians in the province of Madrid, and today is run by the Vicariate of Panama. Tolé is a district located near the suburbs of the indigenous region called Comarca Ngobe Bugle, one of seven indigenous territories in Panama, with its 123,000 inhabitants, which collects 65.6 per cent of the total indigenous population of the country. The mission includes both the inland part of the district, mainly inhabited by farmers, and the inland of Comarca, inhabited by the natives. Just to establish a closer contact with them, the Augustinians founded a second community in the mountains, in the central village of "Llano Nopo", where the missionaries welcome young people by offering them the opportunity to study and to be trained.
The mission of Tolé is situated in one of the poorest states in Panama, in a mountainous region and difficult to access, crossed by rivers with very abundant flows (one of the fathers drowned trying to swim across the river Tabasarà to go to a pastoral meeting), where the indigenous population lives, maintaining their own customs, traditions and beliefs.
There are different activities carried out within the mission, as reported by the interactive news OSA. Firstly, adult formation, which consists of a general guidance of the person in order to understand the spiritual and theological context. Meetings led by catechists and song animators are organized for children and young people, and thanks to this method young children approach the values of the Gospel. The territory of the mission is divided into several areas, each of which includes a number of base ecclesial communities. The Augustinians visit them periodically for the celebration of Mass, the sacraments and other religious activities. Unfortunately, the territories are vast and difficult to reach, so that in some communities, the missionaries come only once a year. An important part of the work is formed by the achievement of projects and works with regards to social nature: construction of bridges, water canals, construction of schools and chapels, agricultural and zootechnical projects, promotion of women, support for families. The work of the Tolé Augustinian missionaries has led in recent years, however, to also many spiritual fruits, with the blossoming of many native vocations. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/08/2011)
