Priest in Venezuela ‘pedals’ Palm Sunday blessings

Father Dennis Dempsey got creative when churches in Venezuela were closed to public Masses due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak. He ministers in San Felix at Jesucristo Resucitado, a mission parish of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It is comprised of 11 neighborhoods, or barrios, all within walking distance of the church. 

As Holy Week drew near, Catholics in the barrios learned they would have to stay at home and pray solely with family members after the government mandated the closure of all churches to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. 

Or so they thought. Enter Father Dempsey, who found a creative way to, as he put it, “bring the church to the people.” 

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Palm Sunday, he went on a 10-mile bike tour and made 29 stops lasting 5 minutes each as he pedaled his way through all 11 barrios until about 1:15 p.m. He did a short prayer service at each stop, blessed people’s palm branches and handed out copies of a two-page pamphlet outlining how people could celebrate Holy Week at home. 

“The response was quite enthusiastic at most sites,” the 73-year-old priest wrote in an email to The Catholic Spirit. “At one location, there was an evangelical prayer group a few houses away (there are more than 60 evangelical churches in the territory of our parish) with a loud sound system blasting away. We had no sound system, but our people’s response and singing overpowered the sound of the other group.” 

People came in droves to take advantage of the Palm Sunday blessings, with more than 300 families coming to stops in their respective neighborhoods. Some even ran to the next stop when they arrived late to the stop nearest their home. One teenager jumped on his bike and went with Father Dempsey for three more stops. The turnout “amazed” Father Dempsey, who noted the extreme economic hardships faced by residents in these poverty-stricken neighborhoods. 

For the last several years, Venezuela “has been suffering the effects of hyperinflation,” Father Dempsey wrote. When he arrived in July 2019, the currency exchange rate was 12,000 Bolivar Soberanos to the U.S. dollar. “Now, 20 months later, the rate is over 2 million Bolivares to the dollar,” he wrote. 

The dramatic increase in inflation means that basic necessities like food are nearly unaffordable for people in the area, many of whom work jobs paying only minimum wage. Father Greg Schaffer, pastor of the parish, noted that the cost of a chicken — $8.25 — is the equivalent of four months’ salary, while a 2-pound can of powdered milk costs the equivalent of three months’ salary. 

Also factoring into the economic equation is health care, with people struggling to get the care they need and having to forego things like clinic visits or hospital stays. And, there is no private or public health insurance for the people in San Felix. 

“Most families try to care for the sick in their homes with limited resources and access to medicine,” Father Schaffer wrote in an email to The Catholic Spirit. “Right now, most Venezuelans are going hungry and cannot afford medicine.” 

Thankfully, the parish is able to supply some assistance for both food and health care. Jesucristo Resucitado operates a soup kitchen to provide meals for the needy, and it provides medicine through donations. The archdiocese contributes through the annual Catholic Services Appeal and through donations from individuals, parishes and groups such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which has sent containers of food, medicine and supplies. 

“It is a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the people of Jesucristo Resucitado parish in these challenging times,” Father Schaffer wrote. “I am very grateful for the prayers and support we receive from Archbishop (Bernard) Hebda and Bishop (Andrew) Cozzens, and for the many generous donors to the Venezuelan Mission.” 

Another blessing for Father Schaffer, who has been at the parish for 23 years, is working alongside Father Dempsey, who is in his second assignment at the parish. He ministered there from 1994 to 1999, serving as pastor, with Father Schaffer as his associate. Both priests said they are glad to be serving together again in Venezuela, as the mission celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. 

“Father Denny is great,” Father Schaffer wrote. “He is so full of energy and is very wise and creative in ministry. He always includes everyone in his planning and ministry — the youth, the Legion of Mary members, the charismatics, the families, the single parents.” 

Having Father Dempsey helps Father Schaffer serve the Diocese of Ciudad Guyana more broadly in his role as vicar general, and helps him focus more on the administrative and financial needs of the parish. 

“I tell the parishioners, he is the ‘diocesan fireman’ who is given the responsibility of putting out the fires in every parish of the diocese,” Father Dempsey wrote of Father Schaffer. “He is very considerate of others, generous and kind-hearted, always thanking everyone for the slightest kindness. I think we complement each other well.” 

Although the conditions in San Felix are bleak, the attitudes of the parishioners are anything but, both priests noted. 

“I am constantly amazed at the people’s resilience and faith, and focusing on the positive despite the hardship of their situation,” Father Dempsey wrote. “When I meet someone on the street and ask how they are doing, the response is almost always, ‘Excellent,’ or ‘All is good, thanks be to God.’ People are so generous, even though they have so very little for themselves. There is a greater sense of everyone being in this together, so most people share with neighbors in need.”

To donate to the Venezuela Mission, please send a check to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and write “Venezuela Mission” in the memo. Father Schaffer also recommends including a cover letter explaining that the donation is for the mission.