The Church in Colombia

Priests of the Military Ordinariate of Colombia participated in a three day encounter from September 14 to 16 to strengthen their pastoral service to military and police units and their families. The Military Ordinariate of Colombia organized the event to provide chaplains with tools for their mission and to renew their pastoral work.

Monsignor José Roberto Ospina Leongómez, the Bishop Emeritus of Buga and Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate of Colombia, called the meeting. During the sessions, priests engaged in morning prayer and meditative scripture reading. They also attended training sessions on liturgy to help them celebrate the faith within military and police contexts, as well as biblical studies to help them apply scripture to the lives of service members.

The priests also met in groups organized by deaneries to coordinate pastoral work across different zones.

The Military Ordinariate of Colombia began the Encuentro Sacerdotal Castrense 2026 – 2 to provide training and support for priests serving the Fuerzas Militares and Policía Nacional de Colombia. Organized by the Obispado Castrense de Colombia, the gathering helps priests strengthen their mission to uniformed personnel and their families.

During the first day, priests attended a conference on liturgy to gain tools for conducting religious celebrations within military and police contexts. Delegates from various pastoral areas also presented workshops covering topics such as family, women, youth, grief, spiritual accompaniment, and missionary animation. These sessions aim to help priests address the specific needs of members and their families in different units and battalions.

The Diocese of Cartagena held a procession and Mass to honor San Pedro Claver during the 39th Week for Peace and National Human Rights Day. Participants walked through the historic center from the area near the Teatro Adolfo Mejía to the San Pedro Claver Sanctuary to advocate for fraternity.

During the Solemn Eucharist, Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera Correa joined the community to honor the saint, who is recognized as a defender of the persecuted and marginalized. In his homily, Father Francisco de Roux, S.J., described the life of Pedro Claver as a living example of justice and peace that transforms the region.

Father De Roux noted that Claver chose to serve enslaved people rather than using political or military power to seek change. He stated that Claver understood that radical acts of love are more effective and lasting than political or military shifts for achieving social justice.