From October 7 to 11, 2026, the Diocese of San José del Guaviare, Colombia, hosted the 4th Regional Gathering on Spiritualities, Seeds, Knowledge, and Flavors as a Source of Life in the Amazon. The initiative, promoted by the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) and the Diocese of San José del Guaviare, brought together community experiences to strengthen ecological spirituality, share ancestral knowledge, and renew the commitment to caring for our Common Home.
The Amazon, a land of life and cultural diversity, served as the setting for this gathering, which provided an opportunity to share experiences, recognize the spiritualities present in communities, and strengthen processes that promote the defense of life and the land.
For five days, participants from different territories gathered in San José del Guaviare to weave connections between spirituality, seeds, knowledge, and flavors, recognizing the value of the ancestral and community practices that have sustained the lives of Amazonian peoples across generations.
Organized by REPAM and the Diocese of San José del Guaviare, the gathering reinforced a holistic view of the Amazon, in which culture, spirituality, and care for the territory are understood as inseparable dimensions of life.
Ecological Spirituality Rooted in the Land
For Caritas Social Ministry, which is active in Colombia’s Amazonian territories, this gathering provided an opportunity to continue building processes from within the communities and to recognize the diverse ways of experiencing, living, and expressing spirituality in each territory.
The shared reflections allowed for a deeper exploration of the relationship between Amazonian spirituality and the daily lives of the peoples, which are closely linked to the land, rivers, forests, seeds, and community relationships. The knowledge passed down through generations and the traditional practices associated with the cycles of nature were recognized as expressions of a profound connection with life.
In this context, the gathering spurred reflection on an ecological spirituality rooted in the territories—one capable of recognizing the value of local knowledge and promoting relationships of respect, reciprocity, and care for our Common Home.
Defending the Amazon also meant nurturing the relationships that sustain life
The gathering also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the social, environmental, and territorial challenges facing the Amazon. Disputes over control of territories and the threats faced by their communities highlighted the need to strengthen spaces for dialogue, listening, and coordination among the various actors committed to defending life.
Faced with this reality, participants shared knowledge and experiences that contribute to building alternatives for the protection of territories. Seeds, traditional knowledge, flavors, and spiritualities became common ground for reflecting on alternative ways of living in, caring for, and defending the Amazon.
Likewise, it was emphasized that the protection of ecosystems is closely linked to the dignity of peoples, the continuity of their ancestral knowledge, and the ability of new generations to maintain a living relationship with their territories and cultures.
We Are All Seeds: The Power of Germinating as a Community
The seed was one of the central images that inspired the reflections of the gathering, as a symbol of life, diversity, and transformation. From this perspective, each person and each community was recognized as a bearer of abilities, knowledge, and experiences that can grow and bear fruit when shared.
“We are all seeds, with extraordinary abilities and qualities to grow in various ways. And when these seeds come together, they can sprout as a community,” stated one of the reflections that accompanied this regional experience.
This perspective allowed us to value the diversity of the Amazonian peoples as a fundamental asset for strengthening community life. Every piece of shared knowledge, every preserved seed, and every spiritual expression was recognized as a contribution to building relationships that nourish hope and open paths for the care of the territory.
The gathering also reaffirmed that the defense of the Amazon requires the active participation of communities, ecclesial organizations, and all actors committed to the protection of life.
A Church with an Amazonian face that walks alongside the peoples
For the Church in the Amazon, these gathering spaces provide opportunities to listen to communities, recognize their spiritualities, and strengthen a pastoral mission committed to life in all its dimensions.
The 4th Regional Meeting on Spiritualities, Seeds, Knowledge, and Flavors as a Source of Life in the Amazon reaffirmed the importance of promoting a spirituality that springs from the land, is nourished by ancestral knowledge, and is expressed in concrete actions for the care and defense of our Common Home.
In communion with the journey of REPAM and the Amazonian Churches, this experience strengthened the bonds of fraternity, respect, and shared responsibility among those working for an Amazon where peoples, cultures, and biodiversity can live in harmony.
Caring for seeds is caring for the future; sharing knowledge is strengthening the community; and defending the Amazon is protecting life. We are all seeds. We are all the Amazon.
