The six Apostolic Vicariates of the Ecuadorian Amazon have formalized their membership in the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) and have committed to bringing to life the pastoral priorities defined by the Sixth General Assembly of CEAMA.
The pilgrim Church in the Ecuadorian Amazon took a historic step in its process of communion, participation, and mission with the holding of the First Ecclesial Assembly of the Ecuadorian Amazon, celebrated from June 29 to July 1, 2026, at the Intipungo Pastoral Formation Center of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puyo.
Under the theme “Something new is coming to be—don’t you see it?” (Isaiah 43:19), the gathering brought together delegations from Ecuador’s six Amazonian Apostolic Vicariates—Aguarico, Méndez, Napo, Puyo, San Miguel de Sucumbíos, and Zamora—along with guests from the Apostolic Vicariate of Esmeraldas, in a space for listening, discernment, and collaborative building that reaffirmed the commitment to continue consolidating a Church with an Amazonian face.
The Assembly aimed to strengthen the Apostolic Vicariates’ membership in the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) by sharing the pastoral guidelines approved during CEAMA’s Sixth General Assembly, held in Bogotá, to facilitate their incorporation into the pastoral plans of each particular Church.
A Church walking together from the territories
The Assembly began with the celebration of the Eucharist, presided over by B Bishop Rafael Cob GarcíaB , who invited participants to renew their commitment to building a Church that is close to the Amazonian peoples, a defender of life, and a steward of our Common Home.
Subsequently, each of the Apostolic Vicariates presented its pastoral reality, sharing the hopes, challenges, and experiences they face in their territories. Bishops, priests, religious sisters and brothers, laypeople, and representatives of indigenous peoples and nationalities offered a valuable snapshot of the richness and diversity of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
The Assembly’s methodology was inspired by “Conversation in the Spirit,” fostering processes of mutual listening, communal discernment, and the search for consensus, in keeping with the synodal style promoted by the Church.
Deepening CEAMA’s Identity and Mission
During the working sessions, participants explored in depth the journey undertaken by the Amazonian Church—from the creation of REPAM, the Synod for the Amazon, and the publication of the apostolic exhortation *Querida Amazonía*, to the founding of CEAMA as an innovative ecclesial body serving the particular Churches of the Amazon region.
B Bishop Rafael Cob GarcíaB presented a historical overview of the origins of the Ecclesial Conference, highlighting how this process represents a concrete response to the Spirit’s call to live out a more synodal, missionary, and intercultural Church.
For his part, B Bishop Celmo LazzariB reflected on the process of CEAMA’s integration into the local territories, emphasizing the importance of strengthening this body in the daily life of the local Churches to respond to the pastoral challenges of the Amazon.
Mauricio López, coordinator of CEAMA’s Amazonian University Program, delved into the identity, nature, structure, purposes, and statutes of the Ecclesial Conference, offering insights that helped participants understand the scope of this new way of living ecclesial communion in the Amazon.
Marcelo Lemos, executive secretary of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), participated virtually to present the historical development of CEAMA, tracing the process that has shaped the ecclesial journey of the Amazon from the convening of the Synod for the Amazon in 2017 to the new pastoral phase inaugurated following CEAMA’s Sixth General Assembly (2026). During his presentation, he highlighted the four stages that have shaped this process: the synodal journey (2017–2020), the founding of CEAMA (2020–2022), institutional consolidation (2023–2024), and the new phase guided by the Synodal Pastoral Horizons 2026–2030, reaffirming that this journey is the fruit of discernment, communion, and service to the particular Churches of the Amazon.
The Assembly also set aside specific time to strengthen a culture of care through reflection on the prevention of abuse and the promotion of safe environments within the evangelizing mission.
Bringing CEAMA’s Pastoral Horizons to Life
One of the central moments of the gathering was dedicated to the presentation of the Pastoral Horizons and Priorities approved during the Sixth General Assembly of CEAMA.
Based on these guidelines, the delegations worked in groups to discern how to adopt and incorporate them into the pastoral planning of each Apostolic Vicariate, seeking to respond to the concrete reality of the Amazonian peoples.
The conclusions revealed significant consensus regarding the need to strengthen evangelization with an Amazonian identity, promote greater community participation, consolidate formation processes, foster the active role of indigenous peoples, and continue coordinating efforts across the various territories.
A Team to Lead CEAMA in Ecuador
As one of the most significant outcomes of the Assembly, each Apostolic Vicariate appointed a representative to form the CEAMA coordination team.
This new body will have the mission of facilitating the Ecclesial Conference process in each territory, strengthening coordination among the Vicariates, and supporting the implementation of the pastoral priorities defined during the Assembly, thereby consolidating a permanent network dedicated to the mission.
Another Step Toward a Church with an Amazonian Face
The First Ecclesial Assembly of the Ecuadorian Amazon concluded by reaffirming the commitment to walk together as a synodal, intercultural, and missionary Church, deeply rooted in the reality of the Amazonian peoples.
The gathering expressed the desire to continue building a Church that listens, engages in dialogue, learns from the peoples, and proclaims the Gospel through the defense of life, the care of our Common Home, and the promotion of the dignity of all people.
Inspired by the promise of the prophet Isaiah—“Something new is coming to pass; do you not perceive it?”
(Is 43:19)—the participants return to their territories convinced that CEAMA continues to be a concrete sign of the ecclesial renewal that the Spirit is bringing about in the Amazon, strengthening communion among the particular Churches and making possible an ever closer, prophetic, and committed presence among the Amazonian peoples.
