Religious sisters in Venezuela from the congregation of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master have chosen to remain in the country to accompany both the local sisters and the Venezuelan people amid the ongoing tragedy. The double earthquake that struck Venezuela on 24 June, claiming more than 3,000 lives and affecting thousands of families, has mobilized the Church throughout the country, as Caritas centers and many parishes become hubs of relief efforts supported by numerous volunteers. The Superior General and a General Councillor of the congregation had just completed a pastoral visit to their community in Venezuela when the earthquake struck. They were scheduled to return to Rome on 25 June but altered their plans to provide emergency support. Superior General Sister Bernardita Meraz explained their mission to the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN):
“We are praying here as the Pauline Family, as the Church”.
The active mission of Religious sisters in Venezuela across affected areas
The sister described how, in the midst of the tragedy, “the priests are truly speaking from the heart, pleading for the Venezuelan people” and how “families are praying in the streets, where buildings have collapsed”. According to Sister Bernardita, the affected populations display remarkable spiritual resilience and refuse to complain against God:
“Instead, they say: ‘With God, we will move forward. God helps us, Our Lady helps us, and the solidarity of the Church helps us’”.
At the time of the earthquake, the sisters were located in Barquisimeto, approximately 95 kilometers from the epicenter, where tense moments were experienced inside homes and on the streets. Soon afterwards, they traveled to harder-hit areas such as San Bernardino, to the west of Caracas. They felt their immediate mission was to be available to listen to people, pray with them, embrace them, and offer them hope.
Together with General Councillor Sister Lucía Filosa and Venezuelan religious sister Soraya Herrera, they brought food, clothing, and medals of the Divina Pastora —the Marian devotion whose main shrine is located in Barquisimeto— to rescuers and earthquake victims. The sisters were deeply moved and inspired by the deep faith and solidarity shown by the citizens:
“We would ask, ‘Would you like a Divina Pastora medal?’ and people would reply, ‘Oh, the Divina Pastora has come to me!’ Then they would take it in their hands and kiss it. They wanted us to place it immediately around their necks or on their wrists”.
Accompaniment at the Rita Building and sidewalk ministry
In San Bernardino, the sisters accompanied rescue workers at the eight-story Rita Building, where several bodies had already been recovered from the debris. At the time, rescuers were still actively searching for children who had reportedly been taking a shower when the earthquake struck, hoping they might still be found alive. Sister Bernardita explained the selflessness of the workers on the ground:
“Some of the rescuers are people who have lost everything themselves and yet are showing solidarity with those still trapped beneath the rubble. I met a young man and asked him: ‘Is your family here?’ He replied, ‘Everyone is my family. Venezuela is my family’”.
The sisters also visited families living in makeshift tents among rows of mattresses, camping out on sidewalks after being evacuated from buildings they cannot safely return to.
“We stopped to speak with people, offer them a comforting touch, and give them a blessing. Venezuelans have a special beauty. They ask you, ‘Will you bless me? Please give me a blessing.’ When I met rescuers, I would take their hands and bless them, saying, ‘Your hand is the hand of God. God is helping through you.’ Some would cry; others would bow their heads in a silence that became prayer, listening, and the loving presence of God”.
The Superior General added that people in the streets thank them for their physical presence and ask for continuous prayers for the country, concluding that the Venezuelan people have suffered greatly, but remain a people of hope and faith.
Emergency package for priests and Religious sisters in Venezuela
The testimony of the Pious Disciples reflects the essential role the Catholic Church is currently playing in response to the crisis, providing material assistance, shelter, prayer, and pastoral accompaniment. To support this institutional response, ACN has approved an emergency aid package of €100,000 for the most urgent needs of the dioceses of La Guaira and Caracas.
The goal of this package is to support priests and religious sisters in the affected dioceses who, despite suffering severe material losses themselves, continue to accompany victims, welcome displaced families, and provide spiritual comfort to their communities. In addition, an official ACN delegation will visit the earthquake-stricken areas in the coming days as a sign of solidarity and communion, and to assess further ways of providing material and pastoral support on the ground.
