Mocoa (Colombia), 06/28/2017, Sr. Pastora Marín.- You never know what a person can do or how he will react to a sudden tragedy ... The people of Mocoa, Putumayo, in Colombia have suffered one of the greatest natural catastrophes of this century.
On March 31, the inhabitants of this municipality, located in the south of the country, were abruptly awakened by the noise of the water and stones that came down from the mountain in great quantities. The avalanche killed more than three hundred and twenty people and left four hundred wounded. Added to this harsh reality, also caused the destruction of roads, bridges and houses. Of the seventeen neighborhoods affected by the tragedy, five totally disappeared. For twenty-seven years, the Province of Bogotá has a presence in Mocoa where the sisters serve in social promotion and pastoral ministry. Immediately after the tragedy, a few sisters felt an inner call to reinforce and accompany the community and suffering people to offer help in solidarity with those who lost everything and to strengthen their hope.
This strong experience touched our lives deeply. Every moment lived in Mocoa, with its people allowed us to welcome their pain, walk with them and live the paschal mystery. "Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabaktaní" (Mark 15:34). It was very important to sustain their hope to start all over again. During the canonical visit of the General Government to the Province of Bogota, one of the General Councilors shared the pains, anxieties and searches of the sisters and the people to identify ways of continuing to accompany and fully strengthen the inhabitants of Mocoa, who have lost everything and lived with a weakening hope. We are grateful for the support and solidarity of the General Government, the various structures of the Congregation, communities, sisters and all those who have made themselves present in the face of the great pain of the inhabitants of Mocoa.