Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ascensión de Guarayos (Fides News Agency) – From May 13 to 15, the Apostolic Vicariate of Ñuflo de Chávez will host celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of this historic city in eastern Bolivia and the beginning of the Franciscan mission among the Guarayo people, which has profoundly shaped the spiritual and cultural identity of the region.
Under the motto "Ascensión, Two centuries, one identity," the celebrations will bring together the faithful, representatives of civil and church authorities, and representatives of indigenous communities. “Celebrating two hundred years means not only remembering the past, but also embracing with hope the mission the Lord has entrusted to us today,” writes Friar Kasper Mariusz Kaproń , OFM, parish priest of the Ascensión del Señor parish, in a letter commemorating the anniversary.
Founded in 1826 by the Franciscan José Gregorio Salvatierra, the Ascensión de Guarayos Mission is one of the most significant testimonies of evangelization in the Bolivian Amazon. For two centuries, members of the Franciscan Order have accompanied the local communities not only through the proclamation of the Gospel, but also in the areas of education and human development, as well as the preservation of the local culture and language.
The evangelization of the Guarayo region began in the late 18th century when Franciscans, at the initiative of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in Tarata, undertook expeditions into the jungles of eastern Bolivia. After years of living alongside the Guarayo people and learning their language and customs, the missionaries established a network of settlements that fostered community organization, agriculture, crafts, and catechesis. Ascensión de Guarayos was one of the most important foundations in this process and, over time, developed into the region's most significant religious and cultural center.
"Ascensión de Guarayos is not just a city with history; it is a community that arose from the Gospel and has been shaped by the faith of generations," the parish priest writes in his letter, emphasizing the deep connection between the people's identity and the Franciscan missionary work.
The Parish of Ascensión del Señor remains a center of vibrant pastoral care today. Children and young people actively sing in choirs and orchestras, thus preserving the musical tradition of the ancient missions.
According to the organizers of the celebrations, the bicentennial program includes Eucharistic celebrations, processions, and cultural performances that unite faith and indigenous identity. The celebratory Mass will be officiated by the Auxiliary Bishop of La Paz, Pedro Luis Fuentes Valencia. The organizers also emphasize: “Ascensión opens its doors to share the joy of its community and the power of a vibrant tradition with everyone.” The Jubilee celebrations are taking place during the anniversary year of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. “Christ brings us together and sends us forth: from the roots of our missionary history to an Easter Church that goes forth,” the parish priest explained in his letter, in which he calls on the community to renew its commitment to proclaiming the Gospel.
The experiences of two centuries of missionary work, accompanying indigenous peoples and promoting their culture and language, demonstrate that authentic evangelization consists of respecting and preserving the dignity of indigenous communities. These communities are called to actively participate in the life of the Church and to shape a more just and sustainable future for the Amazon region itself.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Ñuflo de Chávez, which includes Ascensión de Guarayos, was established in 1951 and entrusted to the pastoral care of the Franciscans. It encompasses the provinces of Guarayos and Ñuflo de Chávez in the Department of Santa Cruz, covering an area of approximately 90,000 square kilometers. The vicariate has about 196,000 inhabitants, of whom more than 159,000 are Catholic. It comprises 21 parishes, 21 priests, 25 religious sisters, and 4 seminarians. The parish is currently led by the Apostolic Vicar, Msgr. Bonifacio Antonio Reimann Panic (OFM). (LGR) (Fides News Agency, 14/5/2026)
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