The General Council conducted a Fraternal Visitation of the Province of Andean Caribbean from the 20th April to the 29th May 2026.
The Fraternal Visitation was conducted by the two General Consultors, Gerardo Hernández and Joseph Ivel Mendanha and the two coordinators of Latin America and the Caribbean, César Torres and North America, Jerome Chavarría.
Frs. Gerardo, César, and Jerome visited the communities in Ecuador. They visited Quito, Guayaquil, Ambato, San Vinces, Riobamba, Manta, Cuenca and Loja and had a meeting with all the confreres from Ecuador in Cuenca.
Meeting with Superiors in Bogota on 28 May 
Community and Lay Collaborators in Medellin 
Lay collaborators of the Perpetuo Soccorso Parish in Hormiga, Putumayo 
Among Indigenous People in Uribia 
Community of Senior confreres in Piedecuesta
At the same time Fr. Ivel visited the communities in Venezuela visiting Caracas, Valencia, Barquisimeto and San Cristobal.
The visitors then moved to Colombia. Frs. Ivel and César visited the communities of Cucuta, both the communities of Piedecuesta in Casa Mantilla and the formation community, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Uribia, Manizales, Medellín, La Soledad in Bogota and La Primavera in Vichada. Frs. Gerardo and Jerome visited the communities in Puerto Carreño, Pasto, Buga with the Basilica, Popayan, La Hormiga in Putumayo, San Gerardo in Bogota, Marianella and finally the formation community in Suba.
Formation community and students in Piedecuesta 
Community in Ecuador 
Lay collaborators in Quito in Ecuador 
Community in Ambato in Ecuador 
Community in Riobamba in Ecuador
The Visitation ended with three important meetings in the community of La Soledad in Bogota. Fr General Celebrated the Eucharist on the 28th morning in the Church of St Alphonsus in Bogota with the superiors of the all the communities in the province from Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela present for the mass. After mass there was an online meeting with the entire province where Fr General addressed the province speaking on the call to be Missionaries of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer today in the Province of Andean Caribbean and in Latin America. He addressed a number of challenges facing the world, the church, the congregation and the need to respond as Redemptorists to these challenges. Each of the Visitors then offered a few words of gratitude and shared their thoughts on the visitation.
Fr. General and the visitors then had a meeting with all the superiors present. He spoke on the theme of Leadership today addressing the crisis of Leadership in the world and the call for us as Redemptorists to offer a meaningful alternative for Leadership in Religious life in the footsteps of the Redeemer. He offered a message of hope to all the superiors thanking them for the valuable service they offer as leaders of the newly founded province. Fr General and the visitors were able to meet personally with many of the superiors present. The day ended with a celebration with dinner and gaudeamus.
On the 29th May, Fr. General and the Visitors met with the Provincial, Fr Maurizio Monroy and Council in the Provincial House in Bogota to share their impressions and thoughts from the Fraternal Visitation and finally concluded the Visitation with mass.
This Fraternal Visitation was a time of celebration of the charism and apostolic life which includes both mission and community in the newly founded province of Andean Caribbean consisting of the Countries of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. The Visitors were united in their appreciation of the Vitality seen and experienced both in Mission and community life in the Province. The Visitors were extremely grateful to the Provincial and Council and to each community and confrere of the province who live with zeal and courage the mission of the Congregation in this Province of Andean Caribbean.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
More Photos from Community and lay collaborators and staff of the community and province in La Soledad in Bogota
Photos from Community, lay collaborators and seminarians in Manizales
Redemptorist Community and Seminary in Suba
Redemptorist Community, lay collaborators, seminarians and School of St Clement in Manizales
Bogota 
St Gerard community in Bogota 
Cucuta 
Redemptorist Community and lay collaborators in Cucuta
Community and lay collaborators and dispensary in Bucaramanga
Community and lay collaborators in Uribia
Among indigenous people in Uribia
Community and lay collaborators in Barranquilla
