Current Mission Work

2023 Updates

• A newly ordained Deacon was assigned to serve in this mission.

2021 Updates

Archdiocese of Guayaquil (3 missionaries)

Diocese of San Jacinto de Yaguachi (1 missionary)

• In the Archdiocese of Santiago de Guayaquil, we are working in three parishes. Our missions are in the south of the city of Guayaquil; an area known as the “Guasmo Sur”. The name Guasmo is due to the abundance of guasmos – tropical trees – that were there in the beginning.
• El Guasmo Sur is a neighborhood that began in 1964. Inhabited by immigrants mostly from the Andes, making this place a marginal area that did not have urban planning, in a short time this sector became the largest and most populated in the south of the city of Guayaquil; It should be noted that Guayaquil is the most populated city in Ecuador.
• El Guasmo Sur has a population of approximately 450,000 inhabitants. An area with a lot of poverty, social problems, violence, and drugs among others. Some of its inhabitants have already improved their homes, but many are still in very simple and precarious houses. The big problem is drinking water and wastewater because the neighborhood was built on a swamp. During the rainy season, the Guayas River grows, causing large floods, causing the wastewater to float.
• Since the beginning of this neighborhood, the Catholic Church has been present with those most in need. Our missionaries have taken up the challenges of this place; serving the poor, accompanying them in their difficulties, in their joys, and in their hopes.

Mission of Corazón Inmaculado de María, parish. Guasmo Sur.

Missionary: Fr. Danilo González. M.F.M.

• This mission is located in the Florida II Cooperative of Guasmo Sur.
• It is a fairly populated parish, with a strong youth presence, various youth groups have been organized, as well as many groups of laypeople.
• This parish is quite active in its liturgical and spiritual life. The great challenge that this parish faces is the difficulty with which many of its parishioners live without sources of stable work, many people do not have the essential conditions to live a decent life.
• The current pandemic has hit this parish a lot, many of its inhabitants have lost their lives.

Mass – at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish – Activities

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish – Provide for the needy

Mission of Santa María Madre de Dios, parish

Missionary: Fr. Francisco Yojcom. M.F.M.

• This mission is located in the Casitas del Guasmo cooperative.
• Most of its inhabitants work in the great city of Guayaquil.
• It is also a parish with many laypeople movements in which many young people take part.
• The parishioners are with a high sense of religious devotion and pastoral commitment.

Mission of San Eduardo parish. Guasmo sur

Missionary: Ángel Ayala. M.F.M.

• This mission is located in the Piso y Techo Cooperative.
• The name “Floor and Roof” of this set of residences recalls the beginnings of this place, so that people built their houses initially they were given the floor and ceiling, they later added the other details to their houses, making these houses increasingly comfortable to live in.
• This mission has two churches; the Church of San Eduardo and the Church of San Maximiliano. They are two communities of very religious and devout people.

Diocese of San Jacinto de Yaguachi (1 missionary)

• This diocese is new before it belonged to the Archdiocese of Guayaquil. Its population is quite extensive, a large part of its inhabitants work in the city of Guayaquil and commute daily to work in the city. Also, a large group of its inhabitants works in agriculture, livestock, and commerce.

Mission of San Pedro Apóstol en Mariscal Sucre and Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Lorenzo de Garaicoa parishes

Missionary: Rómulo Rocael Díaz. M.F.M.

• A considerable part of its inhabitants works in the city of Guayaquil and commute daily to work in the city, but the majority of them work in agriculture, livestock, and commerce. They are people with a strong Catholic faith. Each small community has its own story and traditions. The patronal feast in these communities is a big feast with novenas and processions with the image of the saints.