One month after Venezuela’s catastrophic June 24 earthquake, Catholic sisters are preparing to restore more than classrooms—they are helping restore hope for hundreds of children whose education was interrupted by one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history.
According to Vatican News, the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (MHSFN) are working alongside Camillian Disaster Service (CADIS) International, the Camillians of the Province of Brazil, and CADIS Brazil to provide both emergency humanitarian assistance and long-term recovery efforts for communities devastated by the disaster.
While relief operations continue across northwestern and central Venezuela, the sisters have placed a special emphasis on ensuring children can return to school as quickly as possible.
According to Vatican News, the earthquake damaged more than 400 school buildings, leaving thousands of students without access to education. For many families already facing severe economic hardship, the disruption has added another layer of uncertainty to daily life.
Rather than waiting for reconstruction to be completed, the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth have chosen to reopen their partially damaged school in Caracas this September while repairs continue.
According to Agenzia Fides, as cited by Vatican News, the sisters plan to operate the school on a double-shift schedule. Morning classes will serve approximately 400 to 600 students already enrolled at the school, while afternoon sessions will welcome children whose neighborhood schools were destroyed by the earthquake.
The approach allows the sisters to expand educational access immediately, ensuring that children can continue learning despite the widespread destruction.
Humanitarian agencies continue to face significant logistical challenges as relief efforts move forward. According to Vatican News, Caracas Airport is currently serving as an emergency operations hub, while much of the humanitarian aid is being redirected through Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia, complicating the delivery of assistance.
The scale of the disaster remains staggering. According to official figures reported by Agenzia Fides and cited by Vatican News, the June 24, 2026 earthquake claimed at least 5,346 lives and injured 16,740 people. More than 16,300 people lost their homes entirely, while many others remain unable to return to residences deemed unsafe. Over 23,000 people continue living in temporary shelters, and the United Nations estimates that as many as 50,000 people may still be missing beneath the rubble.
Amid those ongoing challenges, the Church’s response has extended beyond immediate relief to include rebuilding communities through education.
According to Vatican News, the collaboration between the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and CADIS International reflects a sustained commitment to helping families recover by ensuring children continue receiving an education even before permanent reconstruction is complete.
For countless young people whose lives were abruptly disrupted by the earthquake, the reopening of Catholic classrooms offers more than academic instruction—it provides stability, hope, and a visible reminder that they have not been forgotten.
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