(ZENIT News / Managua, 01.25.2025).- The Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, a religious order with over five decades of pastoral service in Managua, have announced their departure. While officially attributed to a shortage of vocations, reports indicate that political pressures from Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime played a decisive role in this unexpected move.
The friars, known for their Marian devotion and commitment to Eucharistic faith, have been a cornerstone of the Nuestra Señora del Carmen community since their arrival. However, sources close to the situation revealed that the government’s insistence on controlling which friars could remain in the parish created an untenable situation. Facing the prospect of interference in their mission, the friars chose to relinquish the parish to the Archdiocese of Managua.
In an official statement, the Carmelite Friars expressed their hope for a return: “If God the Father permits, when we have more vocations, we hope to come back. We remain in ecclesial communion through our prayers and entrust the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish and the entire Church in Nicaragua to the Immaculate Conception of Mary.”
The departure marks the end of a significant chapter for the Discalced Carmelites, whose ministry at the parish spanned generations. The friars expressed gratitude for the countless bonds of faith they forged with parishioners, emphasizing the joy of Marian devotion and Eucharistic celebration that defined their work.
To formally transfer pastoral responsibilities, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes will celebrate a Mass on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. During this service, Father Yedris Calero will assume leadership of the parish.
The departure of the Carmelite friars is part of a broader pattern of hostility toward the Catholic Church under the Ortega-Murillo regime. The Church has faced increasing repression since 2018, including the confiscation of 19 religious properties and a staggering 971 recorded attacks on its institutions and members, according to the report “Nicaragua: ¿una Iglesia perseguida?” by legal expert Martha Patricia Molina.
The government’s actions reflect a deepening campaign against dissenting voices, with the Catholic Church often at the forefront of advocating for justice, peace, and human rights. By targeting clergy and religious institutions, the regime aims to suppress one of the few remaining independent entities within the country.
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