SCJ Presence in Venezuela

The first SCJ arrived in Venezuela on August 17, 1953. Father Manuel Mira, SCJ, was sent from the Spanish Province to begin a new SCJ mission in that country. The SCJ presence in Venezuela has been constant since then.

Over the course of the next two years, three other SCJs joined Father Manual in his work of establishing a new foundation. During these years, the fathers were engaged in diverse apostolic activities in Caracas and other places.

Finally, in November of 1956, the Priests of the Sacred Heart took possession of Saint Michael Archangel Parish in the southern part of Caracas.

From there, the SCJs began to consolidate their presence in Venezuela and to expand into the interior of the country with the arrival of more religious from Spain. The first foundation outside of Caracas was in San Carlos in 1968. Then communities were established in Mariara (1971), Valencia (1974), Tinaquillo (1977), Father Dehon Seminary in Caracas (1984), Rosales and El Jarillo in the Diocese of Los Teques (1993) where there is a retirement home for the Priests of the Sacred Heart.

Today, the fundamental activity of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in Venezuela is in six parishes with distinct pastoral and social characteristics. There are also two houses of formation in Caracas: the Father Dehon Seminary for philosophy and the Saint Michael the Archangel seminary for theology. Finally there is the "Sacred Heart" retreat house.

The SCJs in Venezuela are an ecclesiastical Region dependent on the Spanish Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. This means that most of the SCJs come from Spain, although the presence of SCJs from Venezuela continues to grow.

Activities in the year 2000

1. Six (6) parishes. Every pastoral task carries with it elements of social action.
    
2. Social Medical Centers
   1. Caracas has a center with 10 medical specialities and a laboratory. There were 14,402 patients seen by Doctors and 9,316 in the Laboratory in 2000.
       
   2. Tinaquillo has a center with 11 medical specialities and a Laboratory. There were 7,573 patients seen by Doctors and 9,586 in the Laboratory in 2000.
       
3. Child Care Centers
   1. Mariara, La Haciendita sector: cares for 50-55 children
       
   2. Mariara, Aguas Calientes: cares for 30 children
       
   3. Tinaquillo. Barrio "Las Granjitas": cares for 30 children
       
   4. Tinaquillo. Barrio "La Floresta": cares for 35 children
       
4. Other Services:
   1. "Sharing Your Bread" program in Mariara - a food pantry helping families in need
       
   2. "Infant Survival" program in Mariara - a program to care for the health and nutritional development of children. It also assists in the areas of formation, hygiene and health.
       
   3. Scholarships for children in Tinaquillo - a program to provide school materials, clothing and other items useful for needy children of school age.
       
   4. Two pre-technical schools (San Carlos in 1971 and Mariara in 1978), for the "vocational" education of children and adolescents.
       
   5. A retreat house in el Jarillo for meetings, youth groups, and the like.