Bishop of La Guaira, Pablo Modesto González Pérez, presided over an outdoor confirmation mass for 62 youths from a small mountain community in Venezuela, two months after an earthquake rendered their parish church unusable. The celebration took place in the square in front of the Church of Our Lady of Candelaria, in the village of Tarmas. The altar was set up near the damaged 18th-century structure—whose roof completely collapsed during the double earthquake of 24 June—while parishioners filled the square, the side street, and doorways to accompany those being confirmed.
The parish priest, Fr. Daniel Acosta, described the atmosphere to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN):
“Despite the difficult circumstances, and the intense heat, the young people and their families came together in an atmosphere of prayer, joy and hope. During the most emotional parts of the celebration one could feel the strong spiritual connection and the renewed commitment of those who were being confirmed in their faith. As the parish priest, I am grateful for having been able to celebrate this important sacrament and I trust that, despite the challenges, the faith of our community will continue to grow and strengthen in Jesus Christ”.
“Despite the adversity, the celebration became an experience of unity and perseverance, strengthening community spirit and mutual support”.
Living faith in Tarmas and address by the Bishop of La Guaira
The confirmation mass offered a concrete sign of continuity for a parish accompanying families affected by the loss of loved ones, homes, and jobs. When an ACN delegation visited Tarmas two weeks after the quake, two altar servers, Luis and Alejandro, recalled dismissing the community and closing the doors when the earthquake struck and the roof caved in.
The rectory and parish hall, built with previous ACN support, remained intact, allowing Fr. Acosta to receive parishioners there. The priest expressed the personal emotional strain of his ministry:
“In the morning we are filled with the strength of the Lord, the spirit of God, to serve our communities as best we can. But when night comes, the heart shrinks and, since we are only human, tears flow”.
Speaking directly to the community, Bishop Modesto reassured the faithful of the Church’s presence:
“I want to tell each person, each family that is currently going through difficulties and moments of uncertainty, from the bottom of my heart: you are not alone. Our diocese remains firm, active and close to its people. Nothing will stand in the way of our mission”.
Social crisis and emergency aid from ACN
The disaster struck a country already dealing with a deep economic and social crisis, causing many struggling families in La Guaira to lose their homes and livelihoods. The destruction of parish infrastructure directly impacted the locations where the Church provided both spiritual and material care.
Since the initial days following the quake, priests, religious sisters, seminarians, and lay volunteers have conducted street outreach and held outdoor liturgical celebrations. ACN provided emergency aid to support pastoral personnel serving victims in the dioceses of La Guaira and Caracas, and an ACN delegation recently completed a second field trip to evaluate a new support package aimed at recovering damaged Church infrastructure.
