Rebuilding a Church with Support, Love, and the Mission of Evangelism

Mar 5
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

COLOMBIA

Father Gronotte and his team walk door to door, praying with the poor bring them spiritual and material nourishment — *A missionary visits a community, sharing prayers and consecrating families to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.*

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells us:

“One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (4:4)

Father Andrew Gronotte, L.C., leads youth mission trips to Tierra Bomba, Colombia, where he and his zealous team bring both spiritual and material nourishment to the poor. Tierra Bomba is an island of about 9,000 people outside the city of Cartagena. Those who live in poverty are segregated from the wider community.

Every summer, Father Gronotte leads his team in an annual mission trip to Tierra Bomba. Together they walk door to door, praying with people and consecrating them to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They also give food to those in need after Mass and welcome them into the loving support of the faith community. Sadly, the St. Anthony Chapel, the center of the local Catholic community, is falling apart because of storms that have battered the simple, small building.

PROJECT UPDATES

Advancing the Rebuild of the Tierra Bomba Church

February 2026

On the island of Tierra Bomba in Cana de Oro, just a short distance from Cartagena, the Catholic community has long worshiped in a chapel, Capilla San Jose, built with deep faith but very limited resources. This structure has since deteriorated and become unsafe. Thanks to your generous support, this past year has brought remarkable progress in the chapel facade and bell tower. As we enter the new year, the Capilla de San Jose rebuild project is moving into its next phase, completing the roof. The dream of adding a grotto of Mary, another cherished symbol of hope, remains alive in the hearts of Fr. Jhonnis and the parishioners of Capilla de San Jose.