The return of the Jesuits to Venezuela and the instruments of an apostolic mission (1916-1940)

Abstract

After a long absence caused by the expulsion of Charles 111 in 1767, the Jesuits returned to Venezuela. Charles 111 in 1767, the Jesuits returned to Venezuela. The apostolic The apostolic mission that summoned them was to contribute to the rescue of the the institutionalism of the Catholic Church in Venezuela. Venezuela. The influence that Catholicism had had in the colonial period was lost due to its period was lost due to its participation in internal political struggles and the weakening of its internal political struggles - and the weakening of its organisational and social and the weakening of its organisational and social control capacity, with the application of the anti-clerical anti-clerical measures of President Antonio Guzmán Blanco. When the Jesuits returned to Venezuela, they began to run three key institutions, which became institutions, which became the instruments of this apostolic action. instruments of this apostolate: the Seminary, the San Francisco Church and the San Ignacio San Francisco Church and the Colegio San Ignacio. The latter as their favourite work, given the importance of education in influencing society and the to influence society and the formulation of a social project. social project.