For the Augustinian Recollect Bishop Santiago Sánchez, of the Prelature of Lábrea (Amazonas, Brazil), the first semester of 2023 has been busy with pastoral visits, institutional meetings , inaugurations, training, meetings, trips and all the activities of visits to the parishes.
Institutional meetings
On April 1, I was with the regional coordinator of the Pastoral Ministry for Children. Difficulties, above all economic, through which this Pastoral goes through at the national level seriously affect to the Prelature. We look for how to carry out this care that is so important for mothers in the last months of gestation and first months of rearing, as well as newborns in the surveillance of its first growth.
On April 28, we had a visit from the General Superior of the Josefinas Sisters, who work in the Prelature. Along with a counselor, she was able to visit Lábrea, Canutama, Belo Monte and Foz de Tapauá. They were impressed by the work of their religious and we hope that their General Chapter , already close, do not imply changes in your presence among us.
On May 4, the Marists met their prior provincial in Foz de Tapauá. The four of them Marists from Lábrea attend a College, collaborate in pastoral work and manage Foz de Tapauá, an education center for riverside residents and indigenous people. On the last day of the provincial visit, brother Luis fell and suffered a severe blow to the head and damage to three ribs. transporting him to Labrea in those conditions was an adventure. He now recuperates in his homeland.
Projects
On March 3, a donation arrived from the Parish of Our Lady of Buenavista of the Augustinian Recollects in Getafe (Madrid, Spain) that was distributed according to the wishes of the donors among the three Esperanza Centers, the two Gabriela Projects and the LACIR center, all projects focused on the most vulnerable children and adolescents.
On March 18, the land donated by the Prelature to Fazenda Esperança was blessed and on May 6 this space for care for chemical dependents was inaugurated with a mass, speeches, ribbon cutting, food and party. First the monitors have been installed, who will carry out the necessary arrangements for the entry of the first beneficiaries.
The Prelature has renewed or implemented new contracts or agreements with the incubator of reforestation, the Fazenda Esperança, the Pastoral de la Infancia, the agents of the hospital ship “Laguna Negra”, Arcores and the Lábrea City Council for the Esperanza Center.
Regarding the three Hope Centers there is a real bureaucratic struggle to work with normal; that of Lábrea supports those of Pauiní and Tapauá. The change of religious has increased difficulties. We started the course late, but they are already at their pace.
The Association of Parents and Friends of Special Children (APAE) inaugurated its activities on May 2 with the bishop’s blessing. We accompany you in your struggles to achieve your goals.
On May 24, the first volunteers from the Laguna Negra medical ship arrived, which later picked up the rest of the team in Boca de Acre. They tour the Prelature and in each parish they added the priests to add spiritual care. The many cases attended are only a small drop before this sea of sanitary needs.
On June 1 we began the reform of the Vocational House, whose building was yielding for several parts due to rain and foundation problems. Two foundations from Pamplona (Navarra, Spain) are financing this work, whose budget was adjusted for inflation and ARCORES met the need. After the rains, the works are already going at a good pace.
In June, I participated in Lábrea and Canutama of two Municipal Assistance Conferences Social. The municipalities have resources and we are attentive to take advantage of them according to law for the good of the beneficiaries of our projects.
Trips
From March 22 to 30, I was in Brasilia with the reference bishops of Missionary Action,
in another meeting of the National Missionary Commission and in the preparation Seminar for the National Missionary Congress (Manaus, November) and the American Missionary Congress (Puerto Rico, 2024). We evaluated the triennium program, the implementation of which has been uneven.
From April 17 to 30, the 60th Assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Brazil (CNBB) was held in Aparecida (Sao Paulo). On the way, I visited the pastoral area at km 70 of the Prelature, attended by a missionary team from the sister church in Ponta Grossa.
In Aparecida we analyze the social and ecclesiastical situation in a very realistic and challenging way. There were elections with changes in the presidency, commissions and organizations. in our Northwest Region, the two Augustinian Recollect bishops, Joaquín Pertíñez and I, respectively left the presidency and vice presidency. In general, the guidelines that were until now, that we will have to adjust to the indications of the Synod on Synodality.
From May 7 to 14 I was in Pauiní. Fray Alfonso Lázaro was alone, because Fray Roberto Carlos Alvarado was in the United States for the priestly ordination of him and fray Jesús Moraza, the emeritus bishop attended the Pauiní river. Fray Sergio Pérez, an Augustinian Recollect, accompanied me who lives his year of community and pastoral insertion in Lábrea. It was fast, but intense. Along the way, in the community of San Elías I confirmed nine young people, very happy because they never the same bishop had been confirming there.
From May 17 to 31 I visited Canutama, Belo Monte – Foz de Tapauá and Tapauá. both on the way back from the journey, activities and pastoral meetings were scheduled. In Canutama I participated in the Santa Rita novena, in the radio program and in the feast of the Coronation of Our Lady.
In Belo Monte and Foz de Tapauá I visited the Gabriela Project. In Foz I had the last formation of the confirmands, the confessions and the confirmations. In Tapauá I participated in the patron saint festivities of Santa Rita, with a community celebration of the Anointing, the Confirmation of 28 young people and the blessing of the chapel of Jesus the Good Shepherd.
From June 22 to July 3 was the pastoral visit to Canutama. I participated in the last days of the ninth and of the feast of the patron saint, Saint John the Baptist. The celebration was especially emotional. of San Pedro, patron saint of one of the communities, with his fluvial procession. and we spent a day in Belo Monte.
On our way back, on July 3, we celebrated the patronal festival of the São Tomé community with a large group of people from the neighboring communities and a hearty and tasty lunch.
Holy Week
This year I spent all of Holy Week in Lábrea. Palm Sunday was especially solemn and festive, even with a donkey in some processions. On Holy Monday there were confessions of those who later made First Communion and Confirmation. On Holy Tuesday, at Chrism Mass, the priests renewed their promises. Holy Wednesday was the Procession of the Encounter: the men with Christ and the women with the Virgin meet in front of the cathedral with a short homily from the bishop. Confessions followed.
On Holy Thursday there was Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Holy Hour by sectors. Friday is the Burial procession, the most massive act of all, with fervor and piety. The Easter Vigil went by sectors and, in the chapel of Our Lady of Consolation, the young had a celebration all night long. On Easter Sunday, in Fatima, 24 young people and adults were confirmed and some also received First Eucharist.
