Venezuela - Provincial visit to community of Mavaca and apostolic activities with indigenous Yanomami people
Mavaca, Venezuela - May 2023 - From 3 to 7 May, Fr. Rafael Montenegro, Provincial Superior of the Salesian Province of Venezuela (VEN), made a provincial visit to Mavaca, in the municipality of Alto Orinoco, accompanied by Sr. Marta Riccioli, Visiting Councilor of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Present with them were Sister Henar Alcalde, FMA, Vicar of the Venezuelan Province, and Fr. Nelson Briceño, SDB, Provincial Delegate for Missionary Animation. The purpose of the visit was to accompany the work carried out by the Apostolic Community "Santo Domingo Savio," which is made up of Sister Amparo Mugueta, FMA, Sister Nora Coronado, and Sister Jarmila Choroska, Fr. Albert Pacheco, Fr. André Ahondju, Jesika Rodríguez, Benita Aular and Deacon Jhoan Jaimes. During the days they visited the Yanomami indigenous communities of Shakita, Payarita, and Purima, and met with all the staff of Yanomami Education Unit I and Yanomami II. They also experienced moments of sharing with those working in the evangelization work. One of the most significant moments was the baptism administered by Fr. Montenegro to a large number of catechumens, who had been preparing for several years for this appointment.