In an atmosphere marked by grateful memory and recognition of a shared history, the official presentation of the book “He pitched his tent among us” (Jn 1:14) took place on February 2, 2026, in Riberalta. The book recounts the missionary presence of the Maryknoll Missionaries in the Apostolic Vicariate of Pando, in the northern Amazon region of Bolivia.
More than a historical record, the book is a living testimony to a Church that chose to “camp” alongside the Amazonian peoples, sharing their daily lives, their struggles, their hopes, and the defense of their dignity in a territory marked by rivers, forests, and a profound cultural richness.
A history woven from the territory
Inspired by the Gospel of St. John, the title of the work clearly expresses the spirit that animated the Maryknoll mission: an incarnate, close, and committed presence. The book is the result of careful research and the compilation of experiences spanning several decades of pastoral, social, and community service.
During the presentation, the work of authors and collaborators was highlighted, who managed to capture how a small seed of faith grew until it consolidated an ecclesial structure deeply rooted in the Amazonian reality and committed to social transformation.
Among the main contributions of the book are:
- The Amazonian identity of the mission, marked by adaptation to the complex geography and cultural diversity of the Vicariate, whose headquarters remain in Riberalta.
- The social dimension of evangelization, reflected in the promotion of education, health, and community organization.
- The direct testimonies of priests, religious, and laypeople who walked alongside local communities, building a Church that is close and supportive.
“This book is not only about looking at the past, but also about understanding the present of our Church in the northern Amazon,” said one of the presenters during the event.
A legacy that continues to bear fruit
The presentation was attended by Church authorities, representatives of social organizations, and members of the community, who fondly remembered emblematic figures of the Maryknoll congregation and recognized their decisive contribution to the consolidation of the Apostolic Vicariate of Pando.
It was emphasized that this missionary experience left a model of a Church that is outgoing, synodal, and committed to the poor, long before these concepts took center stage in the current ecclesial magisterium.
The work is thus presented as an invitation to preserve memory, discern the present, and renew the Church’s missionary commitment in the Amazon, in harmony with the processes promoted by the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA).
The book is now available for those who wish to delve deeper into this experience of faith that made the rivers and forests of the Amazon a home for the Gospel.
