Raised by Faith: Church Construction in Villa 14 

In the rural community of Villa 14 in Chipiriri, Bolivia, the Catholic faith remains a vital source of hope and unity despite significant economic hardship. Most families in the area are small-scale farmers who work hard simply to meet their daily needs, leaving little margin for major construction projects, even ones as important to community life as a permanent church building.

Despite these constraints, parishioners have made remarkable sacrifices over time to advance construction of a church that reflects their strong faith and commitment to their community, contributing what labor, materials, and funds they could manage. Maryknoll is helping complete the construction and furnishing of the church, along with supporting the ongoing development of parish ministries that serve the wider community.

Sacrificial contributions of labor and materials from local farming families reflect the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Solidarity, a community pooling its limited resources for the good of all. Completing this church also carries forward Maryknoll’s charism of accompanying communities toward self-sufficiency, helping bring to completion a project the parish began and sustained largely through its own determination and faith.

Gifts to this project help complete construction and furnishing of the Villa 14 church, creating a permanent spiritual home where families can gather for prayer, the sacraments, and community life.