Sebastián Sansón Ferrari, Fr. Łukasz Bankowski – Vatican
Amidst collapsed buildings, families still awaiting news of their loved ones, and entire communities trying to recover from the tragedy, the Church in La Guaira continues to accompany residents affected by the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, June 24.
Fr. Antonio Rella, parish priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, admits that it is still difficult to accurately determine the scale of the tragedy. This is due to difficult access to many areas and the immense destruction.
“The destruction is immense. There are places resembling a war zone, others look like scenes from an apocalypse: entire buildings have been turned into rubble,” he says.
Between hope and mourning
Fifteen days after the disaster, many families still hope to find their loved ones alive among the rubble. Others have had to face the pain of identifying their remains.
The priest recalls the story of two sisters who were rescued alive from under the ruins. He adds, however, that today the uncertainty concerns not only the fate of the missing, but also the most basic living needs of the survivors, such as access to drinking water, food, and livelihoods.
Although some shops have resumed operations, a return to normalcy is still very distant. Many residents have lost their livelihoods. “We are in a very difficult situation,” he concludes.
Parish became a center of aid
“Our parish has become a meeting place for priests and a distribution center for aid to the surrounding communities,” explains Fr. Rella.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary parish itself suffered relatively little damage compared to other communities in the diocese. The altar was damaged, and some statues were overturned, but the structure of the church survived.
The situation in other parishes is much worse. The Cathedral suffered serious damage, and several churches will have to be demolished.
Solidarity from all over Venezuela and the world
The priest emphasizes the enormous wave of solidarity that has come from all over Venezuela and many countries around the world.
“I don’t remember ever experiencing a tragedy of such magnitude,” he admits, thanking everyone who has been involved in humanitarian aid.
He points out, however, that the first days of the rescue operation were marked by some chaos, which was inevitable given the scale of the disaster and the simultaneous influx of many organizations.
He particularly emphasizes the role of Caritas Venezuela, whose parish and diocesan network allowed for the rapid mobilization of people and resources. “The first organization that immediately started operations was Caritas,” he says.
The most difficult thing is accompanying the suffering
According to the parish priest, one of the biggest challenges remains not the distribution of food or medicine, but the spiritual accompaniment of those affected by the tragedy. “It is impossible not to identify with the suffering of another person. It is practically impossible not to feel empathy,” he confesses.
Among the events that particularly stuck in his memory, he recalls a grandmother desperately searching for her granddaughter under the rubble and the funerals of victims, including a one-year-old child. “It is not easy to find words that allow us to look at this reality in the light of faith,” he adds.
Most urgent needs: water and food
The biggest problem currently remains access to food and clean water. Many residents made a living from work related to Maiquetía airport, the port of La Guaira, or local trade. Today, many of these places have been closed or destroyed.
“There are people who have not lost their homes, but have lost their jobs and do not know how they will live,” notes the priest. Although the parish has even organized a medicine bank for residents, ensuring food will remain the most important challenge in the coming weeks.
In conclusion, Fr. Antonio Rella thanks all individuals and institutions supporting the earthquake victims, asking that solidarity not cease when media interest wanes. “When aid begins to decrease, we will still need that small support that will allow us to get back on our feet and begin rebuilding,” he says.
He also addresses Venezuelans living abroad and all people of good will: “Do not stop praying for Venezuela. Not everyone can help materially, but daily prayer is of immense value to us. It reaches the throne of God and bears fruit.”
Finally, he adds words that – as he emphasizes – best reflect the Church’s attitude towards the suffering: “Faith does not make things easy. It makes them possible, because it gives our soul the strength to move forward.”
