The Santa Joaquina de Vedruna Chapel, located in the Los Jardines 1 sector of Cantaura, began its construction process in July 2024. Although the material work is still in progress, from the beginning it has become a space for meeting, prayer and community life for the families of the area and other neighboring sectors.
Inspired by the charism of the Carmelites of Charity Vedruna and the motto “Love and more love that never says enough”, the community has promoted this project with shared effort, community participation and the support of benefactors.
The pastoral, social and community activities are promoted by the Vedruna Lay Community “Carmen Gacetabeita”, associated to the Vedruna Laity, under the spiritual direction of the presbyter Félix José Figueroa and the accompaniment of Sister Trina Hernández. The coordination is in charge of Professor Jesús Meneses and his wife, together with other members of the team who accompany the work in the different nearby sectors.
Although the church is still under construction, pastoral life is developing normally. Baptisms, family catechesis meetings and preparation processes for First Communion and Confirmation are held in this space. There are also celebrations of the liturgical seasons, Holy Week, Christmas and others.
Every week, the community gathers for the Celebration of the Word, animated by the acolyte Julio Canache, keeping alive the prayer and the community meeting. During the month of May, we had the celebration of the Eucharist where children, youth and adults received the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation.
The commitment of the community is also expressed in solidarity actions, such as visiting the sick, accompanying people with disabilities and delivering food and clothing to needy families. All this is part of a journey that seeks to live the Vedruna charism in a concrete way and strengthen community life in the different sectors of the area.
In this way, the Santa Joaquina de Vedruna Chapel continues to grow little by little, not only as a material construction, but also as a space of faith, service and encounter for the community.
Jesús Meneses, Vedruna Layman
