Presence of the Viatorian Community in Jutiapa, Atlántida, Honduras, C.A.
The Viatorians arrived in Jutiapa, Honduras, on January 10, 1998. At that time, the Bishop of the Diocese of San Pedro Sula, Bishop Angel Garachana, opened his doors wide to us, and we took charge of the Parish of Our Lady of Transit. This mission encompasses the entire municipality of Jutiapa, with its more than 80 villages, hamlets, and communities on the northern Caribbean coast of Honduras—where God's Providence has led us.
The founding team, sent by the Province of Spain to pave the way for this precious Viatorian mission in Central America, was composed of Fr. José Ramón Zudaire († November 22, 2007), Bro. Arturo Lobo, and the young religious Víctor Cámara.
Milestones and Lived Experience of Our Journey
Various events and commitments have marked the journey of our community in Jutiapa, making it a significant and prophetic presence, a seed of the Kingdom of God endowed with a strong Viatorian identity:
The impact of Hurricane Mitch in October 1998.
The creation of SERSO Honduras on November 28, 1998, just one month later, to work on social projects.
The volunteer program launched in 2001 for those wishing to have a mission and solidarity experience alongside the community.
The constant concern, from the beginning, for the education of children and young people in our community.
The training and support of lay people involved in our local communities: delegates for the Word, catechists, and young people.
The invitation extended to the parish's closest and most committed individuals to learn about and join the Viatorian Community.
Opening up to new commitments according to the country's needs and realities.
A narrow path with the local Church on an intense journey of communion, participation, and mission.
The process of creating proprietary educational works since 2014.
The effort to implement a communication project via Radio Viator on several occasions.
The complex and difficult realities faced by the Honduran people in the face of serious social, political, and environmental crises.
Today, we are a Viatorian Community that has been journeying together since October 25, 2008, composed of 26 associate members and 5 Viatorian religious. We are Viatorians—men and women, single, married, and consecrated—walking toward God through our commitments linked to the Viatorian charism (Viatorian Community Charter).
We are a Honduran, committed community rooted in the immediate reality of our municipality of Jutiapa and its villages. We face a high poverty rate that has worsened in recent years, causing a strong migratory current towards the United States and other countries, a context in which the famous migrant caravans to the North were born.
As a Viatorian community, we strive to be faithful to the identifying elements of our charism: the Viatorian spiritual life, mission, community life, and formation. We feel ourselves to be "co-heirs and co-responsible for the development of the Viatorian charism" (Viatorian Community Charter) through our personal and communal experiences.
Areas of Work and Missionary Service
We are developing our work and services in various fields:
Evangelization: Through the parish platform Nuestra Señora del Tránsito, serving the entire municipality in coordination with the National Pastoral Care of Honduras and the Diocese of La Ceiba. We emphasize the great commitment of the laity: delegates of the Word, catechists, leaders of Basic Ecclesial Communities, youth, liturgy, family pastoral care, and social pastoral care.
Social Pastoral: We are intensifying this work to respond to the surrounding social realities, with the precious support of SERSO in the areas of health, education, gender equity, housing, care for the «Common Home,» water, and sanitation. We also promote citizen organization in networks, active democracy, support for youth and women's networks, the defense of human rights and life, as well as legal and psychological assistance against violence.
Education: Several members work in formal and non-formal education in the villages of Jutiapa and Balfate, managing the San Viator Educational Center and the Maestro en Casa program.
Ecclesiology and Synodality: We welcome the orientations of the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the momentum from Pope Francis, and now Pope Leo XIV, towards a Church of the «People of God» living out synodality. A Church that listens to the cries of the poorest, involves all the baptized, and denounces abuses of power that affect the most vulnerable.
We feel called to radiate Viatorian charism by making known the Venerable Fr. Louis Querbes, his work, and the community in Honduras.
As Father Querbes knew very well, «God will provide.» And in Honduras, we say: «God will provide... and He does provide...»
Viatorian Community of Honduras.
