The Provincial Vicariate of Venezuela of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary received the Master of the Order, Brother Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, together with Brother Juan Luis Mediavilla, OP, Syndic of the Order, and Brother Fernando Delgado, OP, Socius for Latin America and the Caribbean. The visit took place from 23 to 29 April.
The Master’s visit included the Convent of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Caracas, the Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in San Cristóbal and the Casa de Santa Bárbara in Rubio. The friars of the houses of San Alberto Magno in Barinas and Espiritu Santo in Barquisimeto travelled to Caracas, where they met with the Master of the Order.
The friars, distributed in the two convents and the three houses, carry out important apostolic work in Venezuela, running six schools, a radio station and five parishes. Other significant apostolates include teaching in universities and diocesan seminaries as well as preaching retreats and giving conferences to the clergy and other religious communities. The friars also collaborate with other members of the Dominican Family accompanying sisters, laity and young people in formation. Together they organise missionary activities for justice and peace. These activities were consolidated into a single Dominican preaching initiative after the celebration of the Dominican Month for Peace in the year 2021.
As a part of the canonical visitation, the Dominican Family organised two celebrations highlighting the diversity of the apostolate of the vicariate, the richness of the various regions of the country and the joy of being part of the Order of Preachers. The first of these celebrations took place in Mérida on 24 April, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the affiliation of the Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lima, a Venezuelan foundation, to the Order. The Master of the Order presided at the Mass, for which Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Caracas, also was present. The second celebration took place in the Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino, next to the Convent of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Caracas. The friars of the vicariate and representatives of the communities of sisters, lay groups and the Dominican Youth Movement all participated.
The Master of the Order, the Syndic of the Order and the Socius for Latin America and the Caribbean would like to thank the friars and the whole Dominican Family in Venezuela for their presence and commitment to the country, for their preaching witness, and for the fraternal welcome. They are grateful for the atmosphere of celebration and thanksgiving to God for the vocation of each one of them. May God bless Venezuela with new and abundant vocations.
