The Society of San Vicente de Paúl in Chile gave the bishopric of Iquique a building in Comodato, which will now be administered by the local Church. The opening of a pastoral center is expected.
This is the building where the San Vicente de Paúl home worked, located on Manuel Rodríguez 955 street in the city of Iquique. For more than 70 years, the administration of the property was in the hands of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity and, since 1999, of the Society of San Vicente de Paul.
Receive the main news of ACI Press by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social networks. Subscribe to our free channels today:
Hundreds of older people passed by, who received attention and affection provided by the volunteers of the Iquique Charity Conference.
In December 2022, due to economic difficulties, he had to close its doors.
With the delivery of this building to the Diocese of Iquique, the purpose is to “continue supporting the Iquiqueña community”, They express from the San Vicente de Paúl societywhile claiming: “We fully trust that the bishopric will use these facilities to promote initiatives that contribute to growth, well -being and opportunities for people and families in the region.”
In addition, they announce that the chapel of the building will remain open for the celebration of the daily mass, maintaining a spiritual meeting space for all who wish to approach the Lord.
The institution also reiterates the commitment to “serve the most vulnerable communities” and thank “all those who were part of the Mission of the Household San Vicente de Paul for so many years.”
“We continue to trust that this new stage will be an opportunity to continue sowing hope in the Iquiqueña community,” they insist.
From the Bishopric of Iquiquefor their part, they thanked God “for all the good that the daughters of charity, with the collaboration of endless volunteers, carried out from this place for the good of the community and the Iquiqueña society.”
Within the framework of its evangelizing mission, the Diocesan Church announced that the property “will be a pastoral center, which will concentrate and give life to many works of evangelization and social pastoral of the Diocese, typical of the nature of the Church.”
In addition, they anticipated that “their doors will always be open to the pastoral service that is necessary.”
Taking into account the motto of the Jubilee Year “Pilgrims of Hope”, they reflected: “The fact of taking charge of the mentioned building, in the context of the jubilee, which has as its central content the celebration of the 2025 years of the birth of Jesus, it will be occasion to revive hope. ”
“In times where there are reasons for discouragement, I invite you to let us drive for the words that the Apostle Paul addressed to the Christians of Rome ‘hope not disappoint,” the bishop encouraged, Mons. Isauro Covili Lympati.
“The diocese of Iquique, from this building, new pastoral space, renews its evangelizing commitment and their option for the poor, because it recognizes poor and crucified Jesus Christ,” he concludes, trusting the evangelizing and social action to the care of the Virgin of the Virgin of the Carmen de la Tirana and San Lorenzo Mártir.
A “longed for news” for the community
Upon knowing the news, faithful of the diocese expressed satisfaction in social networks: “Beautiful and so longed for news, I am sure that it is in the best hands, the Lord always bless you,” wrote Yohana Farías Zurita, while Elena Inés Arriagada González He said: “It is the best news for the entire community of Iquique.”
“What a beautiful news, a property that was being lost, pretty action thinking about the needy brother, many memories with the sisters of San Vicente de Paúl and laity committed to the service by older adults with health problems, especially Alzheimer’s Elena Reyes Ibarra.
Many of the members of the community also expressed their desire that the place continues to function as a asylum for the elderly, who receives people alone and of humble condition.
Julieta Villar
I am a journalist, a graduate in Communication from the National University of La Matanza in Argentina. I have work experience in non -governmental organizations. Since 2016 I dedicate myself to Catholic journalism, first in the Argentine Catholic Information Agency (AICA) and, since 2022, as a correspondent for ACI Press for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia.