‘With all our hearts we thank you for the car’ say Sisters serving poorest of the poor

RELIGIOUS Sisters in Venezuela have thanked a Catholic charity for providing an SUV for transport, enabling them to buy basic food and medicine for the poorest communities in their parish.

The Sisters of the Missionary Association of Jesus and Mary, in Carora Diocese, in the north-west, were struggling to reach remote villages with their old worn-out vehicle.

As well as caring for the sick, elderly, poor families and the homeless they have given a home to 30 girls who have been orphaned or abandoned by their parents.

The Sisters also run a preschool where 80 children are educated in a Christian spirit and provided with meals.

Bishop Carlos Enrique Curiel Herrera appealed to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for help and the Catholic charity responded by supporting the Sisters in his diocese with a Toyota Hilux.

Bishop Herrera said: “The Sisters have been here for over 50 years now. They do so much good, asking nothing in return and caring for all the needy.”

He said many of the children who go home at the weekend are “consumed with hunger”, as their families often cannot even provide the basic most necessities. But during the week at least, the children are properly fed.

To obtain food, clothing and medicines for the people the Sisters must drive to the Colombian border, some 290 miles (460 km) away.

Around 80 percent of Venezuela’s population lives in poverty.

It remains practically impossible to find necessities locally, at least in the quantities needed. 

Sister Yamile said to ACN: “With all our hearts we want to thank you for your prompt and generous support. 

“May God continue to bless all those who are hoping to make your wonderful work of mercy possible.

 “Our special charism is to imitate the active life of Jesus on earth through works of mercy, and thanks to your help we can truly fulfil the Lord’s words in our lives.

“Thank you for helping the missionaries of Jesus and Mary and for supporting our work of evangelisation, so that the Kingdom of God can be spread throughout the world.

“May the Lord and the Blessed Virgin abundantly bless all the staff and benefactors of ACN so that, together, we can at least help to ease the sufferings of the people in Venezuela.”

On 3rd January US forces attacked Venezuela and seized its president, Nicolás Maduro, flying him to New York to stand trial on drugs, weapons and “narco-terrorism” charges.

In a statement on 5th January the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference (CEV) said: “In light of the events unfolding in our country today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength.

“We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and the families of those who died. Let us persevere in prayer for the unity of our people.”