On June 5, 2016, the Augustinian Recollect Santiago Sánchez (Cortes, Navarra, Spain, 1957) was ordained bishop in the Cathedral of Manaus (AM, Brazil). On the 13th he traveled to Labrea (AM) and, on the 19th, took office as the fourth prelate bishop of the Prelature of Labrea.
Then came a period of learning that included courses for new bishops in Brasilia and Rome and a first encounter with the reality of the four municipalities of the Prelature. At the time of his appointment as bishop, he was parish priest of Saint Rita Parish, in Manaus, after many years dedicated to initial formation in the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Augustinian Recollects.
When bishop Santiago began his ministry, the Augustinian Recollects were present in the parishes of Labrea, Pauini and Labrea; there were four diocesan priests (one incardinated and three from other Brazilian dioceses), three female congregations (Oblates of the Assumption, Augustinian Recollect Missionaries, and Josephine Sisters), one male congregation (Marists), one community of life (Mission Rescue), and two seminarians.
Ten years later, the Oblates remain in Tapaua; the Josephines have two communities, and the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries left the management of the historic Saint Rita Educational Center, concentrating on work with the riverside communities. The Marists took over the Camaruão community, and recently the Franciscan Sisters of the Parish Apostolate and the Missionary Friars Minor, who work in Canutama, have joined them.
Bishop Santiago wanted to strengthen what was already underway. He set the goal of two annual visits to the parishes, participating in visits to riverside communities whenever possible, and closely monitoring all pastoral activities, movements, and services.
Socio-evangelizing projects continue to be encouraged: Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), Children’s Pastoral Care, Elderly Pastoral Care, Prison Pastoral Care, Hope Centers, Solidarity Land, Laguna Negra hospital boat, Sister Rosa Children’s and Adolescents’ Home (LACIR), Santo Agostinho Hope Farm, and other actions focused on education, health, and support for the Association of Parents and Friends of Exceptional Children (APAE), and international NGOs for leprosy patients.
The Prelature gained another parish, Saint Sebastian & Saint Francis in Belo Monte/Foz de Tapaua, and a missionary area, Our Lady of Aparecida, in the south of Canutama, near the BR-319 highway. Thus, a new ecclesiastical map was established, which no longer coincides with the political map of the four municipalities.
In the vocational field, Thiago Mendes became the first priest originating from and for the Prelature, which now has three incardinated priests: Henrique Giera, Éder Carvalho, and Thiago himself. The collaboration of the Dioceses of Vitória (ES), Campina Grande (PB), and Ponta Grossa (PR) has also been important.
There is still a large debt and much work to be done in serving indigenous peoples, riverside communities, and residents of rural areas. Challenges arise constantly: the growth of non-ecumenical evangelical communities, drug trafficking, the ineffectiveness of public policies, and political polarization.
In 2016, upon assuming his post, Bishop Santiago found the guidelines of the XII Assembly of the Prelature with a Pastoral Plan and priority objectives. Practical application included Popular Missions and the implementation of Initiation into Christian Life. In these ten years, two more Assemblies have taken place, keeping pace with the ecclesial rhythm, including the Synod for the Amazon and the call to Synodality. The next Assembly will be in 2027.
The Prelature wants to transform into reality the aspirations of the exhortation Querida Amazonia: the social, cultural, ecological and ecclesial dreams. This implies greater dignity and defense of the vulnerable, dialogue, promotion and appreciation of local culture, defense of integral ecology and traditional peoples, pastoral care focused on permanence, and a synodal Church.
The 100th anniversary of the Prelature of Labrea and of the arrival of the Augustinian Recollects, and the ten years of episcopate of bishop Santiago Sanchez are anniversaries that serve as an occasion to thank and encourage all those people, organizations, and institutions that daily build the history of the Prelature of Labrea in the Brazilian Amazon.
