Bishop Joaquín Humberto Pinzón Güiza, Consolata Missionary, does not lack courage. Pope Benedict needed a strong young man at the head of the new Vicariate of Puerto Leguizamo-Solano that he created in 2013 in Colombia. The territory of the Diocese-to-be lies between two rivers. There are no roads. The christian communities are reachable only by boat or by plane, and then by horse or…on foot! Moreover it borders with Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Pastoral activities have to be carried out across these common boundaries, interacting continually with the civil administration of four countries. And, to make the situation more difficult, the area is almost neglected by the national authorities: guerrillas thrive, illegal production and sale of coca are widespread, the riches of the forest are plundered by loggers and miners, while local unemployment is severe.
The great majority of the inhabitants of this Amazon area are Native Americans. They live on hunting, fishing and gathering. Some have begun tilling a parcel of soil not far from their houses. But the forest cannot provide for all their needs. Periodically they must go to the local townships either for shopping (to buy salt, soap, and other basic goods) or because of health reasons. The smartest ones have also to travel to reach their boarding schools. But the journey on the river from and to the forest village is a long one.
Luckily in La Tagua, on the Caquetá river, the Consolata Missionaries have been running a mission for 50 years. And La Tagua is the ideal place for a stop over. But the mission lacks the facilities to host the Natives on their journey. Bishop Pinzón would like to build a common house (“El Rancho”) for them. He dreams of a building of bricks and wood, covered with galvanized sheets. There, the Natives will have a common area for eating, resting, sharing stories according to their custom, perform traditional rites and religious celebrations. El Rancho will have also two large sleeping rooms with bathrooms (for men and women); and laundry facilities.
To carry out this project, Bishop Pinzón needs $14,000.
Let us help Bishop Joaquín to achieve his dream! He knows that with El Rancho in La Tagua he will not only offer a safe haven for the Native Americans of his Vicariate during their journeys, but he will also provide them with the precious opportunity, while stopping over, to receive some spiritual and moral guidance. Fr. Peter Ssekajugo – our confrere now stationed here in Somerset, NJ – was the Pastor of La Tagua for seven years (from 2006 thru 2013). He has no doubt that this project is the best opportunity for the Church to help the advancement of the Native Americans in the area where he worked.