What is our Global Solidarity Partnership with Maracay, Venezuela all about?

Background on the Partnership:The relationship between the Dioceses of Maracay, Venezuela and St. Cloud, Minnesota began in 1964 when Bishop Bartholome of St. Cloud responded to an appeal by Pope John XXIII to assist the Church of Latin America with human and economic resources. At the same time, Bishop Feliciano Gonzalez of Maracay asked the American Bishops for personnel for his young diocese that had just a few native clergy. 

At that time two priests, including Fr. James Minette, from the St. Cloud Diocese went to Maracay to live and serve. Over the years, many priests, Sisters and lay volunteers from St. Cloud served their brothers and sisters in various parishes of the Diocese of Maracay. That assistance helped the diocese mature and strengthen. It has been blessed with an abundance of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, as well as with dedicated laity.

In the year 2000, then Co-Adjutor and later Bishop of Maracay, Reinaldo Del Prette and St. Cloud Bishop John Kinney, redefined the mission relationship between the two dioceses as one of collaboration, in which each diocese would share of their faith, ideas, personnel and resources. A Liaison Committee made up of the Bishop, clergy, Religious and laity, was set up in each diocese to guide and direct the partnership, and to direct pastoral, educational and spiritual formation and exchange between them. Several Maracay priests have studied English in St. Cloud; youth from Maracay have evangelized in St. Cloud; and a Maracay priest is currently ministering in the Diocese of St. Cloud full-time as he serves and walks in faith with the people of our diocese. St. Cloud has collaborated with support for seminarians; small projects such as providing start-up funds for the Maracay Diocesan Communications Office; and short-term pastoral assistance.