THE P
RTAL
Aid to the Church in Need
August 2018 Page 20
In Colombia & elsewhere , Christ “ came to suffer for his people and with his people ”
Murcadha O Flaherty reports
Our Lady of Marinilla diocesan seminary in Colombian diocese of Sonson-Rionegro has a remarkable story to tell . Despite life-threatening dangers still facing the clergy in southern Colombia , the diocese of Sonson-Rionegro remains a rich source of vocations in Colombia as well as for the Catholic Church worldwide . Since its foundation in 1980 , Our Lady of Marinilla diocesan seminary has produced 500 priests . Their diocesan bishop receives letters asking him to be generous in response to the shortage of priests in many countries around the world . Responding to Christ ’ s call , the diocese has sent more than 200 priests as missionaries abroad to 18 different countries .
After decades of political violence that left an estimated 220,000 people dead , including reports of priests being murdered across Columbia , the Church is working to ensure the faithful heal the wounds of their suffering . During Pope Francis ’ visit to Colombia last year , he described the country as a “ land watered by the blood of thousands of innocent victims and by the heart-breaking sorrow of their families and friends .”
Seeking to address the deep hurt in their lives , Pope Francis ’ visit included praying before the ‘ Cross of Reconciliation ’ in Villavicencio . The Holy Father added that it is only “ with the help of Christ , Christ alive in the midst of the community ”, that the lay faithful and priests can “ usher in a new Colombia ”. After 50 years of civil war , the Pope called on its citizens “ to pray together and to forgive one another …[ and ] to heal the wounds of other victims , to rebuild their dignity .”
During his Papal visit he was also inspired by the symbolic importance of the ‘ Crucifix of Bojayá ’. This broken statue of Christ was found on the floor of a bomb-blasted Catholic church in Bojayá . The concrete building was providing shelter for 300 villagers during a threeway firefight when it was hit by a mortar . At least 79 people died and 100 were injured .
Pope Francis noted that : “ Christ broken and without limbs is for us ‘ even more Christ ’, because he shows us once more that he came to suffer for his people and with his people ” ( his own italics ). Speaking to Columbia ’ s faithful including the young seminarians , the Pope reflected that Christ ’ s crucifix “ teaches us that hatred does not have the last word and that love is stronger than death and violence .”
This wealth of vocations from the Colombian diocese has greatly benefited the country and the universal Church . To the help Christ ’ s body on earth in its mission , Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need is supporting the South American seminary in the formation of 91 seminarians currently studying there . This year the charity will be helping once again , with more than £ 20,000 (€ 22,750 ) providing support for these young men to ensure that they can follow their vocation .
Aid to the Church in Need www . acnuk . org contact : acn @ acnuk . org or call 020 8642 8668
Our Lady of Marinilla diocesan seminary , Colombia