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
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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
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.
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
Jul 7, 2026
Relief efforts in Venezuela are continuing in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of Wednesday, July 24th. With two earthquakes over a magnitude of 7 hitting within a minute of each other, severe damages have been wreaked throughout the city of Carcas, with homes and livelihoods destroyed, and hundreds of lives lost.
Br Deiby Fuenmayor MSC sends 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.
Emergency shelters
In an update on Friday, July 3rd, Br Deiby wrote that he has been visiting the various shelters that are currently in place, with Monsignor José Manuel León, auxiliary bishop of Caracas, and Fr Gerardo Guillén. These temporary shelters have been set up in areas such as car parks and sports courts, to provide urgent care and emergency relief to affected communities.
“The majority of those sheltered in these temporary locations have been forced to leave their homes out of fear of aftershocks or major structural damage,” Br Deiby writes. “These families remain outdoors as a preventive measure, waiting for the authorities to carry out the necessary technical inspections to verify if their homes are fit and safe for their return.”
Two official shelter facilities have been set up within the Santa Cruz parish, which will house about 800 people from La Guaira State who have tragically lost everything. “They have lost their homes, their belongings, and, in many cases, family members, leaving them in a situation of total vulnerability,” Br Deiby explains.
“Support teams are visiting shelters daily, distributing basic supplies, food, and the necessary assistance to meet their day-to-day needs in the midst of this crisis.”
A letter from Br Deiby
In a letter to Irish Provincial Superior Fr Joe McGee MSC, dated Monday, July 6th, Br Deiby sent our most recent update.
“I am writing to inform you that, so far, the Parish of the Holy Cross and our support centre continue to provide direct aid to almost 2000 people. We are visiting the parking lots and designated shelter areas daily, monitoring for safety, as well as the three large refuge camps already set up.
Currently, we have begun a vital programme of humanitarian, spiritual, and psychological support. We have several people on board specialising in these different areas, and, from July 12th to August 3rd, we will be supported by between five and six seminarians from the archdiocese in recreational and sacramental activities together with neighbouring parishes and auxiliary bishops. We also continue to support those centres outside our jurisdiction with medicines, mattresses, and clothing, working alongside the Archdiocese and Caritas to help those that we can.
We thank God that people of goodwill and great faith continue to support with us food, medicines, medical supplies, and everything they have within their reach. We are very grateful for the compassion and generosity of Sacred Heart benefactors who are helping us through the Mission Office in the Irish Province also. Today, I will be taking part in a meeting of the emergency committee of the Archdiocese of Caracas to coordinate new strategies. We greatly appreciate your financial support and prayers, as this process of relocation and recovery will last for several months.
God bless you always. We will continue to keep in touch.”
Grateful for generous hearts
Br Deiby has also sent a video update, to give us a short glimpse into how the aid work is progressing. Please see below for an English transcript of the video commentary.
On the morning of Thursday, July 2nd, the Auxiliary Bishop Elect of Caracas José Manuel Leon, together with the Vicar for Pastoral Ministry, Fr Ricardo, and Bro Deiby Fuenmayor MSC, made a pastoral visit to the refugees in the eastern part of Caracas to accompany, console and understand the reality of the difficulties being faced by each community in the wake of the earthquake.
Bishop José: This is a situation which certainly merits our attention, meeting our brothers and sisters who have been deeply affected and those who need our support and help.
Br Deiby: We are here to support those who have been so affected by this terrible earthquake. The people living here, have not lost their lives as a result of the quake, thank God, but they have lost their homes. We have visited about a thousand or so people, assessing the situation and bringing them the help that you have been supplying with such generous hearts.
We have also been in Pro Patria this morning. There is a team of a hundred or more people providing support at the shopping centre there, and there is also a refuge centre which has already welcomed about 100 people from La Guaira and expects to welcome about another 300 tomorrow and the day after.
Here in this zone, there are about 500 people who are all supporting each other, and receiving help from the Archdiocese support teams.
Bishop José: What we are trying to do is reconstruct lives with faith, hope, and love. We are beginning the reconstruction with faith, because what remains now is such a huge challenge. The attention that we can give to these brothers and sisters, our love and care, is so important, not only in a practical and material way, but also in a spiritual way, making them part of our family, part of ourselves… This is the challenge we are embracing as an Archdiocese. May God bless each and everyone.
