Like too many worldwide, Panamanians are facing challenges that call for Mary’s intercession. 

In Panama, critical issues revolve around access to water, mining operations, and housing, all of which are deeply interconnected. Mining, which has captured significant attention, threatens to displace the country’s most marginalized populations and pollute their environment. 

“These are small chapels in faraway places,” notes Fr. John Carney, CM, emphasizing the vulnerability of these communities. 

Additionally, there is a push to create reservoirs for clean drinking water and canal operations, which also risks displacing people and highlights the limited water resources available. 

In response, various religious communities and organizations, including the Vincentians, have united to advocate for those most affected by these crises. 

An example of this collaborative advocacy can be seen in The Episcopal Conference of Bishops Panama’s Pastoral Letter on Integral Ecology. The letter introduces “integral ecology,” which seeks to restore “balance among human beings, neighbors, the earth, and God,” and stresses that the lives of people are more important than the economy. You can read it in Spanish or the Sisters’ of Mercy English summary, A Cry for the Earth: Panama and the Pastoral Letter Integral Ecology.  

Beyond advocacy, Fr. Carney said priests in Panama are primarily focused on youth ministry, charity, and being delegates of the Word.