On Sunday, February 16, 2026, the parish priest of the San Juan Bautista Cathedral in Chitré, José Héctor González, spoke about the difficulties he faces in reaching the temple during the carnival celebrations. At the same time, he drew attention to the lack of water affecting several districts of the area for several days.
The cathedral church is located right in the center of a perimeter of approximately six hectares where the carnivals take place, considered among the most crowded in the country. As the priest explained in his homily, every time he leaves the Curate House, he must cross congested areas and even jump fences to reach the church, due to the surrounding conditions and water accumulation in the park area.
“Even if it smells whatever it smells out there, even if you have to leave the car on the other side, even if there are places in Chitré where water has not arrived for days and here it seems like there is a deluge, do not stop coming to mass, do not stop putting yourselves in the hands of God,” expressed González.
The priest contrasted the abundance of water in the carnival area with the reality of communities that have been without the vital supply for several days.
Despite the logistical complications inherent in the festivity, he emphasized that masses have continued to be held at the Cathedral during the carnival days.
Finally, he called on the faithful to persevere in their faith and on the authorities to seek solutions to the water supply problem that affects numerous families in the district, in the midst of one of the most crowded celebrations on the national calendar.
