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A celebration of remembrance and love in Ecuador

Aug 6, 2026

In July, Ecuadorian Section Leader Fr Marcelo Campoverde MSC led a special Mass at a local cemetery in remembrance of loved ones who have gone to their eternal rest in the Lord’s embrace. The ceremony was both poignant and uplifting, as the community remembered their dead and celebrated their earthly lives and loves.

The MSC mission in Ecuador is looking forward to an exciting August, with a third Ecuadorian priest, Diego, due to be ordained on August 8th. “We are working to place greater emphasis on youth and vocation ministry,” writes Fr Marcelo. “Diego will be the one leading this work, utilizing social media and working with young people in our parishes. I ask for your prayers for him.”

We pray for Diego, Fr Marcelo, and all on the MSC mission in Ecuador, with every grace and blessing of the Sacred Heart. We remain truly grateful for the support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home, which goes such a long way in helping Fr Marcelo and indigenous communities in Ecuador. May God bless you all.

IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR GLOBAL MISSION PROJECTS

Update from Venezuela Earthquake Response: August 5th, 2026

Aug 5, 2026

Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC has shared further updates from the Venezuelan earthquake relief programme, following the double earthquake that shook the city of Caracas on June 24th. Aid efforts are ongoing following the disaster, and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Venezuela are working in conjunction with Caritas Caracas to bring vital support to survivors of the quakes.

Today, we share the latest video update from Br Deiby and the Caritas team, and the most recent report on the ongoing outreach programme.

Faith and Hope Accompaniment After the Earthquakes

Humanitarian and Pastoral Assistance Mission: State of La Guaira and Caracas, Venezuela

Please click here to view the full report PDF.

A Call Not to Lower Our Guard Amid Adversity

After the devastating double earthquake that shook our country on June 24th, leaving deep scars of pain and extensive material losses across various regions, the Catholic Church, through Cáritas Caracas and the parish network, reaffirms with renewed commitment its uninterrupted presence alongside the most affected communities and families.

Accompaniment in Shelters and a Call to Solidarity

We make a fraternal and urgent appeal to all Venezuelan people and to all people of goodwill: Let us not lose heart, let us not be careless, and let us not lower our guard!

The initial emergency has transitioned into a crucial stage of human, social, and spiritual support. The pain of our brothers and sisters requires us to keep the flame of solidarity alive and continue channeling aid through the various collection centers established in both the Archdiocese of Caracas and the Diocese of La Guaira.

“Our greatest strength is the faith we share. We will rise again! Jesus Christ does not remain distant from suffering; He walks side-by-side with every man and woman in these crucial moments.”

Impact of the Tragedy and the Pastoral Response

The double seismic movement caused atrocious damage to infrastructure and housing. Although the city of Caracas suffered severe damage in several sectors, the State of La Guaira was the area of greatest impact and devastation.

Faced with this difficult reality, the ecclesial response has not been limited solely to the delivery of material provisions.

“OUR GREATEST STRENGTH IS THE FAITH WE SHARE. WE WILL RISE AGAIN! VENEZUELA VENEZUELA VENEZUELA”

Direct Assistance and Support Framework

Material Aid in Collection Centers

  • Non-perishable food: Baby food, infant formula, and grains.
  • Personal Hygiene Kits: Soap, diapers, and toiletries.
  • Drinking water & medicines: Priority medical supplies.
  • Responsible distribution: Direct delivery to the most vulnerable families.

Spiritual and Human Accompaniment

  • Pastoral Listening: Offering comfort and emotional guidance.
  • Proclamation of the Word: Bringing the light of the Gospel to pain.
  • Fraternal Closeness: Walking alongside those who suffer in the shelter.
  • Community Prayer: Constant intercession for victims and grieving.

The Comfort of Christ and the Conviction of Hope

Amid the rubble and difficulty, the central message of our faith remains steadfast: Jesus Christ remains and walks with every man and woman. Through Pastoral Listening and the close presence of our priests, religious, and laity, we continue to offer spaces for emotional relief, affective containment, and spiritual strength.

We express our deep gratitude to every person, family, and institution that, with their valuable contribution, makes it possible for this work to continue. Every donation and every prayer translates into a tangible embrace from the Church for those who need it today.

Closing Reflection and Commitment

We offer our special prayers for the eternal rest of all those who lost their lives in this tragedy, and we ask the Lord to grant fortitude, peace, and conviction to those of us who are still journeying through this arduous trial of life.

“We press on, united in the Love of the Sacred Heart.”

Bro. Deiby Fuenmayor MSC
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
La Santa Cruz Parish (Propatria)
Date: August 4, 2026

Read Br Deiby’s last letter from Caracas

Read more about ongoing relief operations in Venezuela

Grief, Faith, and Hope: The Response to the Seismic Tragedy in Venezuela

Jul 31, 2026

GRIEF, FAITH, AND HOPE
The Response to the Seismic Tragedy in Venezuela

 

BY BRO. DEIBY FUENMAYOR, MSC • CARACAS, JULY 30, 2026

Since that fateful June 24th, when a devastating double earthquake of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 violently shook Venezuelan territory, the country was plunged into one of the darkest hours of its recent history. In a matter of seconds, thousands of lives were cut short, hundreds of buildings and infrastructure collapsed, and the map of entire communities was altered forever. Today, weeks after the disaster, physical and emotional wounds continue to bleed; grief and anguish remain deeply rooted in the heart of a people trying to rise from the rubble.

THE OPEN WOUND: THE GRIEF OF LOSS AND THE RELENTLESS SEARCH

The toll of material damage and human loss is heartbreaking. Thousands of men and women have known no rest: with hands worn by dust and despair, they continue through the rubble desperately searching for the bodies of their loved ones. For these families, the priority is not merely rebuilding walls, but the urgent human and spiritual need to recover their deceased to grant them a Christian burial, honor their memory, and find solace amidst immense suffering. The uncertainty of this prolonged search keeps entire communities in a constant vigil of mourning and lamentation.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE MISSIONARY CHARISM: A BEACON OF CHARITY AND LIVING PRESENCE

In the midst of this devastating panorama, the Catholic Church has played a fundamental role of accompaniment, consolation, and assistance. As the Church, and especially through our mission as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we have assumed a prominent and vital role in walking alongside the suffering people. Our fundamental mission in these critical hours has been to reveal and make felt that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is not a distant devotion, but a living reality beating right in the midst of every man and woman struck by this tragedy.

Jesus Christ is not indifferent to this concrete reality; He is deeply imprinted in the innermost core of every person. We are moved by the certainty that Jesus walks with His people, suffers with those who suffer, and sustains the weak. Through Caritas, diocesan pastorals, and the missionary presence on the ground, the ecclesial structure has deployed a comprehensive response:

  • Emergency Material Care: An untiring logistical response has been maintained, distributing food, essential medicines, drinking water, and temporary shelter tents to thousands of families who lost everything.
  • Pastoral Listening and Emotional Support: Beyond physical aid, we understood that soul sorrow required a healing presence. Listening pastoral teams, religious brothers, sisters, and priests walk daily among those affected, lending their ears, shoulders, and comfort to those facing grief and distress.

«We do not walk alone; the Sacred Heart of Jesus beats amidst the ruins and reminds us that in every tear, in every search, and in every embrace, He is present, walking firmly alongside His people.»

 

COOPERATION AND PRESENCE IN TEMPORARY CAMPS

Thanks to continuous and respectful dialogue between Catholic Church representatives and state officials in charge of temporary shelter camps, permanent spaces for spiritual and human accompaniment have been established within these centers. This collaboration has ensured a dignified space for:

  • Prayer and Sacramental Life: Gathering places where believers celebrate the Eucharist, find strength in the sacraments, and experience the closeness of a loving God.
  • Open Accompaniment Without Distinction: Pastoral closeness and the embrace of the Sacred Heart know no boundaries or exclusions. Every person, regardless of creed or background, who needs to be listened to, comforted, or sustained in their grief is welcomed. Walking alongside the wounded, camping next to the unprotected, searching for the missing, and praying over the rubble has been the living testimony of a faith expressed through action. As reconstruction efforts continue, the selfless presence of the Church and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart remains a beacon of hope, reminding all of Venezuela that the loving presence of Jesus walks steadfastly alongside His people.

 

Bro. Deiby Fuenmayor • Missionary of the Sacred Heart

Read more about ongoing relief operations in Venezuela

Please click to view the full PDF

Update from Venezuela Earthquake Response: July 29th, 2026

Jul 29, 2026

It is just over a month since the city of Caracas was wracked by huge earthquakes on Wednesday, July 24th. The impact has been devastating, with hundreds of lives lost, and buildings and city infrastructure destroyed.

Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC has been sending regular updates from Caracas, where he is working alongside Fr John Jennings MSC and a whole team of volunteers and relief workers to provide crucial support to those impacted by the earthquakes. Most recently, Br Deiby sent photos and videos from the shelters and support centres that have been helping thousands of people.

Today, Br Deiby has sent photos and a video message to update us on the current situation in Caracas, as the recovery operation continues. The landscapes in view as he travels show just how catastrophic the earthquakes have been, and the tragic reality for the people of Caracas right now.

 

“Thank you so much for your support,” Br Deiby writes. “I am right now at the epicenter of the disaster in La Guaira, bringing aid.”

“Here in this shelter, there are 150 people in just this small spot. I am also aware of 12 other temporary camps in the parish of Santa Cruz and its surroundings. Almost 2000 people are receiving aid here.

Thankfully, I have a good team of helpers.”

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have also been working closely with Caritas Venezuela, providing funding to help with the ongoing relief aid. In a message to Irish Provincial Superior Fr Joe McGee MSC, Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala, Archbishop of Maracaibo and Head of Caritas Venezuela, sent his gratitude to the Irish Province of the MSC for the generous support of our benefactors.

We are sincerely grateful for your prayers and support as our Sacred Heart family continue to help the people of Venezuela as they look to rebuilding and repairing for the future.

IF YOU CAN, PLEASE HELP OUR MISSION IN VENEZUELA

Update from Venezuela: Thank you from Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala

Jul 16, 2026

Relief efforts in Venezuela are ongoing in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of Wednesday, July 24th. The damage has been catastrophic, with the tragic loss of hundreds of lives as well as the destruction of homes and livelihoods across the city.

Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC has been sending regular updates from Caracas, where he is working alongside Fr John Jennings MSC and a whole team of volunteers and relief workers to provide crucial support to those impacted by the earthquakes. Most recently, Br Deiby sent photos and videos from the shelters and support centres that have been helping thousands of people.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have also been working closely with Caritas Venezuela, providing funding to help with the ongoing relief aid. In a message to Irish Provincial Superior Fr Joe McGee MSC, Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala, Archbishop of Maracaibo and Head of Caritas Venezuela, sends his gratitude to the Irish Province of the MSC for the generous support of our benefactors here.

Monsignor José Luis Azuaje Ayala, Archbishop of Maracaibo and Head of Caritas Venezuela (Image via www.caritasvenezuela.org)

Dear Fr Joe, warm greetings from Maracaibo.

I wish to express my gratitude on behalf of the people of Maracaibo, who are trying to reach out to the victims of our recent earthquakes. We are very grateful to the Irish Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and to the good people in Ireland, your benefactors, who have provided badly needed funds to help with our relief effort.

We are in full emergency mode at this time. We will keep in touch and let you know later how we have put your funds to good use.

Once again, I thank you most sincerely for the generosity of the Missionaries of the Sacred and their benefactors. May God reward you, and please continue to pray for the people of Venezuela.

Feliz de Mama! A special Mother’s Day in Ecuador

Jul 16, 2026

In May, Fr Marcelo Campoverde MSC celebrated a very special Mother’s Day with indigenous communities in Ecuador.

“May was a busy month with various activities and celebrations, but I am especially happy to celebrate Mother’s Day with the local community,” Fr Marcelo writes.

The photos sent by Fr Marcelo show a wonderfully special day, with beautiful cakes shared to celebrate the women of the community.

Thanks to the support of our mission friends and benefactors here at home, we have been able to provide great help in recent years to Fr Marcelo and several indigenous communities in Ecuador. We are very grateful for your ongoing support and friendship as we work to help these communities in real and pressing need.

“We greatly appreciate the help so often provided by the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, and I would like to convey the gratitude of the parish families from afar,” Fr Marcelo says.

IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR GLOBAL MISSION PROJECTS