The current violent occurrences in Venezuela are heightening social unrest and greatly threatening the security of her citizens. Holdups, robberies, kidnappings, murders … have been becoming daily realities that sadden everyone but surprise no one.
One of the most recent episodes occurred on Saturday, February 15, when two Salesian religious of the community at Don Bosco School in Valencia were murdered.
Our religious and the lay people for whom they dedicate their lives live every day in fear of being attacked and have to wait in long lines to be able to obtain their most basic needs. They are living with restrictions and manipulations of information that generate uneasiness and uncertainty.
Solidarity and Prayer
The Order of Augustinian Recollects wishes to show its solidarity with all the friars who carry out their pastoral mission in Venezuela and asks everyone to pray for our religious who live day by day among the people who suffer, that their lives may manifest God’s consoling love.
In an internal communication, the Order also asks for prayers for the victims of the violence and for their families during these times of pain and sadness.
The Justice and Peace Commission of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference has published a communication entitled “We Must Be Witnesses of Truth,” which condemns the violence and demands respect for the fundamental human rights that are being violated.