The apostolic vicariate of Guapi lies in the far south-west of Colombia, on the Pacific coast. 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 FARC guerrilla movement and the Colombian National Army. As recently as November last year (2024) the bishop‘ 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 some 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 him as his sole means of transport for his pastoral visits. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors we were able to give him the 27,085 Euros required. 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.
