Dom Joaquín was preparing the new appointments of the Diocese when we establish communication with him. He receives us with cordiality, leaves his works and accepts our requests for the Web Site of the Order.
Q.- How is the Diocese of Rio Branco?
A.- It has an area of 105,000 square kilometers, I believe approximately ¼ of Spain. It has a population of about 400,000. The number of priests has not accompanied the speed of the growth of the population, because we are about thirty priests all in all, diocesan and religious. Indeed, very few, if we take into consideration the distances and the needs of the communities scattered all over the forest. At present, there are 14 diocesan priests and 11 permanent deacons. Male religious Congregations are the Servants of Mary, Capuchins and Marist Brothers. There are 12 female religious Congregations, making a total of 90 female religious. Unfortunately we do not have a community of Augustinian Recollects. The nearest are more than an hour away by plane.
Q.- What is the social and labor situation of this region? What characteris-tics of the evangelization and pastoral would you stress?
A.- The present situation is clearly one of development, of great progress at all levels. The government is investing a lot to improve the situation of the poorest and neediest. It has improved very much during the last years, although there are still much left to be done, given the situation of abandonment for many years and centuries. With reference to the Pastoral, at present we are putting into practice the great missionary challenge that the Conference of Aparecida brought for all. Our Diocese of Rio Branco wishes to become “a shop of missionary discipleship”, as the motto of the last Diocesan Assembly held last month of August. We had already started, years ago, with the Popular Holy Missions in all the parishes of the Diocese, and now, as a great challenge for all, is a basic formation for all the leaders of our Church, in search of Catholic identity. It is a course of missio-nary formation that is obligatory for all. Likewise, priority is given to urban pastoral with the great challenges of modernity.
Q.- Among the things that happened during these ten years of your Epi-scopate in the State or Arce, what do you think are worth stressing?
A.- Basically, they have been ten years of apprenticeship of how to be a bishop in an ac-tual situation that is as difficult as this, the Amazonian Region, with the great challenges of the modernity, that has arrived here just like in other places, and in addition with the needs and deprivations that our Diocese is facing. Gradually we try to respond to the challenges that the society presents to us and we search for solutions to the many prob-lems we have. They have been years of hard work, with the collaboration of all, princi-pally of the priests, religious and above all of the laity, a living force of our Church.
Historia de la Diócesis de Rio Branco. 1878-2000. New Book
Q.- You have written a book of 800 pages entitled “Historia de la Diócesis de Rio Branco, 1878-2000.” Could you tell us the motive that induced you to write it?
A.- What provoked me to write was when I came across a short history written sometime ago, about the first ten years of the Servants of Mary in this region, from 1920 to 1930, that I had always wanted to read. When I finally read it, I saw that behind it there was a beautiful and interesting history that practically no one knew about. There I was inspired to continue very history gathering documents and researching in very few sources of in-formation I could find. Therefore, the motive, is to make known and place in the hands of our people the exciting history of our Church, filled with heroism and remarkable deeds worthy to be known by all.
Q.- Why does the narration start in 1878?
A.- It starts in 1878 because it was the year of the arrival of the first northern people, who arrived in this place after the famous gaucho. The history of this region starts there, with the coming of the first missionary, the parish priest of Lábrea who arrived in these fara-way places doing his “desobrigas”, for 30 years. The entire territory, belonged to the pa-rish of Lábrea until 1910. We are therefore united by common history.
Q.- What relation does the Diocese of Rio Branca with the Prelature of La-brea, where you worked for ten years?
A.- The relation is that neighborhood, we border each other and the same river, the Purus, crosses us. Other relations are difficult because of distances and communications. We meet each other with great difficulty. I meet the Bishop, Dom Jesus, only twice or three times a year, in the meetings of Bishops, and it is more difficult with the religious, some-times we do not see each other for years. Pastorally, we belong to the same Pastoral Re-gion, but in practice it is limited to regional assemblies, or to some pastoral reunions of the Parish of Pauiní, which have closer relationship with our Diocese. The distances are enormous and cannot be covered every day.
The present situation is clearly one of development, of great progress at all levels. The Gaucho and the Landown-ers
Q.- What would you highlight of the history of the region at this stage?
A.- Well, it is a very interesting and beautiful history, as is any other history of the dio-ceses of the Amazonas, filled with difficulties, problems, and great challenges. First was the problem of the gaucho, with its system of exploitation and slavery, and, therefore, of extreme poverty, in all senses. Without any system of health, without education, because the powerful could not derive any benefit from it, and without the needed support of the Church, because of difficulties in communication and lack of economic and personal re-sources. Later was the arrival of big landowners, with the problem of deforestation, the burning and invasion of lands, expulsion of residents, enormous peripheries of cities.
Q.- What was the response of the Church to these challenges?
A.- Gradually the Church responded, in her own way, by becoming aware not only of her spiritual but also of her role as an evangelizer in its wider meaning, and in this way, she started orienting the people, making them more conscious and offering them means to face those problems so that they could lead a more dignified life.. It has not been easy, because they were times of persecutions, diseases, sufferings and sometimes even death. Yes, there is progress; but there is still a long way to go. There is still so much injustice, so much discrimination, so much inequality, so many needs to cover, etc.
Vocations
Q.- When you arrived at Rio Branco there were few vocations. Since your arrival the minor seminary was restored and the major seminary had been con-structed. How did you do it?
A.- When I arrived at the Diocese one of the most of obvious things I saw was the lack of priests to attend to the needs of our communities and the parishes. With a population that is constantly growing, with cities sprouting in different places, with many parishes with-out priest, our future was very difficult. This was the reason why we started a very strong vocational pastoral, all the communities praying for vocations, and trying to welcome all the young people who were knocking at our door. It was necessary to widen and renovate the limited space that existed as the minor seminary, and with the increase of young aspi-rants, we started with the major seminary, first with the study of philosophy and later with the theology. At present we have all the appropriate studies, in the Diocese itself, with the help of voluntary professors in all courses, both religious and clergies. It is be-coming a very interesting and positive experience for all.
Works and Financial Sup-port
Q.- Could you explain to us how was the construction of a new tower in the Cathedral and the restoration of the apse with a painting on the universe realized?
A.- Because this year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Cathedral, the Government wanted that it be a patrimony of the State, and offered to re-store it, because it never had any modification since its construction. And it decided to complete the work, which was not finish because of lack of economic resources, with the the construction of the bell tower. This was how the initiated work was completed, after fifty years. Part of the modification was the painting of the apse, by a local painter, who for years anxiously desired to give expression to his artistic talent in the Cathedral, with the moment of the creation of the light, represented by the galaxy Andromeda. Later, another artist of Acre sculptured the statue of the Crucified Christ that solemnly presides the Cathedral.
Q.- Pardon the indiscretion, but how do you get collaboration and funds for so many projects?
A.- Well, I cannot say much at this moment. It is clear that by myself I could not have done anything. Thanks to God, there were charitable and generous souls who helped us and continue to help, in order to bring the works to completion, for the good of the Church and the people. Letters, tears, prayers are what make these miracles possible in the forest. Institutions from different places and countries, anonymous persons, many ge-nerous hands who collaborated and made everything possible. We give thanks to the Lord for everything. The Communion of the Saints is clearly seen also in material things.
Q.- And as a final question, what are your wishes?
A.- Our wishes and dreams are to make the Kingdom of God among us, with all the children of God living in a dignified manner, and striving to make our world more just, united and fraternal, a reality.. For this reason we work and exert effort, trying to give witness of unity and ecclesial communion.