In the midst of a convulsed political and social environment, 12 Jubilee Churches in Caracas (Venezuela) were inaugurated this weekend. In that sense and in view of the importance of hope during the Holy Year 2025, several young Venezuelans expressed their intention not to leave the country, to be able to make it “a full of opportunities.”
From the parish Our Lady of the Candelaria, who also celebrated his festivities on February 2, the Archbishop of Caracas, Mons. Raúl Biord, recalled that “Christ defeats all darkness and darkness.” In addition, within the framework of the day of the presentation of the Lord in the temple, the shepherd of the Caracas Church asked for all the children and young people in the country.
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After the sworn of Nicolás Maduro as president on January 10, for a third consecutive mandate, in the midst of serious fraud accusations, a kind of generalized disappointment has been installed in Venezuela. In social networks and other platforms, calls abound to leave the country to seek a better future.
Mons. Biord, in his homily, prayed for young people to “continue to grow in wisdom and in blessings from God.” In a conversation with ACI Press, several young Catholics who participated in the Mass reflected on the jubilee year and the role they play in the Venezuelan future.
Antonio Rodríguez, 20, said that “as boys we can make a change in the country. There is a fairly complicated situation, but among us young people can move forward with a country that has what. ”
“As young people, we must fight and have that strength to continue doing things well,” he added.
The local church has promised to accompany this feeling through the activities of the 2025 jubilee. “That we live with joy these jubilee events, flooding Venezuela de Esperanza,” said the archbishop.
Jessica Saballo, another young woman present in the parish, did not hesitate to affirm “that it is very important” stay in the country and work “for a great change.” In addition, he said that Venezuelan youth “has an incredible mentality” and that he considers that “together we can build a great future.”
“I am not leaving. Hope allows us to have a north and know where we are going, having faith we can achieve many things, ”added Saballo.
For his part, Jesús Quintero, 22 years old and belonging to the musical ministry of a recognized parish of Caracas, said that “there is no country like Venezuela.”
“If we don’t fight for our country, nobody will. Hope goes that we can have the strength of staying and be part of this great country. That we can help the poor, the most needy and that we ourselves are feeling of hope for the population, ”he added.
Mons. Biord blessed the candles of the parishioners that crowded the temple, a tradition of Candelaria Day, and recalled that they can be lit at any time and before any need. “Jesus Christ is the light of the nations, as the prophet, the old Simeon calls it,” said the archbishop.
“Let us remember that the only light is Christ, that with its clarity dissipates the darkness of those we live in the shadow of death,” he concluded.
Andrés Henríquez
I am a writer for ACI Press and correspondent of EWTN since 2023. Since then, I cover events of the Catholic Church in Venezuela and Latin America. I have more than 5 years of experience in bilingual media. In addition, in Venezuela I have worked with non -governmental organizations for freedom and respect for human rights in the country. I am a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.