I am Jorge Manrique Castro, C.M., a Bolivian national and a member of the International Mission Team in Bolivia, belonging to the Province of Chile. I was ordained in 1997 and have already celebrated the Silver Jubilee of my priestly and missionary ministry.
I quote our founder in his phrase of not being from here or there, but from wherever God wants me to be. After ten years in the mission of Cochabamba, Bolivia, where I accompanied and encouraged the parishioners and the various branches of the Vincentian family, I came to witness the richness of belonging to such a family. It also became clear to me the need to be present in each moment that arose during my pastoral work, from 2011 to 2020.
Starting in 2021, after the experience that humanity went through with the Covid pandemic and seeing the specific needs of each place, I asked to join the missionary community in Trinidad, Beni, in the TIPNIS: Isiboro Secure Indigenous Territory and National Park. Here, missionaries serve a vast area of about 32 communities scattered across the region. So, in 2021, I joined this team, which was quite a challenge—leaving the mild climate of Cochabamba (14°C min / 29°C max) for the 35–40°C heat and high humidity of Beni.
This experience enriched me deeply as I immersed myself in the uniqueness of each river community: Isiboro, Secure, and Ichoa. Our Church is present in each of these rivers, traditionally accompanied by Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. Now, we Vincentians continue the task of nurturing their faith, which is deeply rooted in their culture. This journey broke many of my Western liturgical assumptions and allowed me to experience in a fuller, more meaningful way the grace of the Risen Christ through their sacred celebrations and traditions.
Being among them means reinforcing their faith, hope, and love, which come from their deep sense of God as the Creator of all that surrounds them. I have had the joy of participating in their community celebrations, patron saint feasts, sacraments, marriages, and blessings of homes, tools, dogs, and horses—faithful companions in their pastoral life. Their wives play vital roles in the home and in educating children, while also contributing through fishing and hunting. The land offers citrus fruits, cane, cassava, bananas, and of course, chocolate—blessings they cherish and protect.
They welcomed me as one of their own. Despite the risks of river travel and relentless mosquitoes, the joy of fellowship, liturgical celebrations, and the wisdom of the elderly—alongside the vibrant energy of youth and young parents—make everything worthwhile. As a missionary, I have learned to inculturate myself in their ways, embraced by a Church that has walked with them for generations. Being a missionary in this land is a gift from God.
Among the new experiences, I’ve learned to operate boats with outboard motors, particularly the “peque-peque,” their typical river transport. I’ve also picked up basic engine mechanics and the hazards of hidden river logs and sandbanks that often require disembarking to push the boat free.
I thank God for this journey and every moment He allows me to live it.
