Venezuela: Young Catholics remember earthquake victims lives of faith and hope

Young people from La Guaira Diocese remember dead friends © ACN

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

Young Catholics in Venezuela gathered to remember friends and family killed in June's devastating earthquake, determined they should be remembered for how they lived rather than how they died.

Three months after the disaster, young people and their families from La Guaira Diocese came together at Plaza Jerusalén in Maiquetía on Saturday (26th September) for Mass, prayer and singing in memory of young Catholics who lost their lives.

Among them was Crystal Olivo, a member of the diocese's youth ministry, who lost her two sisters, 17-year-old Chantal and eight-year-old Clara, as well as friends and fellow youth group members.

She told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "They were people filled with light and life."

Remembering her sisters, Crystal added: "My little sisters were a living reflection of holiness."

She described how Chantal sang in the church choir and was involved in catechesis and youth ministry, having a passion for learning about her Faith.

"She loved researching her Faith, and she loved it so much that she wanted to reflect it and show it to the world," Crystal said.

Her younger sister Clara, born during Venezuela's 2017 economic and social crisis, had overcome several health problems.

She said: "She arrived quite literally to bring joy to everyone's lives. She was a child of light, colour and laughter."

Shortly before the double earthquake struck on 24th June, Clara had attended Mass dressed as Our Lady of Candelaria.

"She was so beautiful. She radiated light. Clara had always been very active, doing everything and never sitting still. But that day she was peaceful. She listened to the Mass, she was filled with light, her hair was done nicely, and that is how she departed."

Crystal's youth group, based at the epicentre of the disaster, lost eight members.

They included Chantal's best friend, 18-year-old Nayra, who had arrived to visit her sister just minutes before the earthquake struck.

Crystal had left the building just minutes earlier.

She said: "Their souls were so pure, so connected, that everyone says you couldn't find soulmates like them. So much so that they left together."

Others included Alejandro, who "gave his life to save his girlfriend", and brothers Eduarlys and Miguel.

Crystal described Eduarlys, who worked to help support his younger brother, as a "real fighter", adding: "He had a beautiful smile and always had a hug to give."

For Crystal, keeping alive the memory of the young people and their faith is part of coming to terms with the disaster.

She said: "What you do to pass on faith in God is what you leave behind in the hearts of others. That is what they did - they left their souls imprinted on the hearts of everyone around them."

ACN has supported the Church's emergency response in La Guaira and Caracas, helping priests, religious Sisters and pastoral workers assisting affected communities.

With thanks to Maria Lozano

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org