Devastation and Resilience: Venezuela’s Struggle After Deadly Earthquakes
Three weeks have passed since Venezuela was struck by a catastrophic pair of earthquakes on June 24, yet the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath.
The earthquakes claimed the lives of at least 4,500 individuals, with thousands still unaccounted for and approximately 16,700 people sustaining injuries.
Communities like the Catholic parish of St Oscar Romero in Ciudad Chavez have been particularly hard-hit, having lost a majority of its congregation.
Father Alfredo Bustamante, who leads the parish, shared his grief with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), saying, “This was a young parish, but it has been practically destroyed. Around 80 percent of the faithful have died. We lost entire families, grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren. Only four members of our choir survived, and I lost four of my altar servers. It has been hell.”
Local clergy are tirelessly working to provide support to the affected communities, despite dealing with their personal losses and trauma.
Father Daniel Acosta recounted to ACN how the disaster took away his home and close friends. “So many people, so many friendships gone. It hurts badly when you realise that somebody you knew your whole life has gone, after years of sharing everything with them,” he expressed.
He added, “Feelings are very mixed. We are here to accompany, to counsel and to support those who have suffered human losses, but also the many who have lost their jobs.
“We commend ourselves to the Lord, asking him to help us every day. In the morning we fill ourselves with His strength, with God’s spirit, to better serve our communities. But at night the heart sinks, and since we are merely human, the tears flow.”
In the wake of such loss, many survivors are turning to faith for solace.
During a memorial service, Bishop Pablo Modesto urged those who survived not to succumb to despair but to find purpose in their continued existence.
“But in the end, it’s the miracle of why we made it but others didn’t. It’s difficult to understand, but these are things we need to ponder in our hearts – like Mary. And to realise that if God gave us the gift of life – and it was a gift – it is so that we can live in service to others and not just give up. The question is not why I am alive, but what for,” he reflected.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
