The goal of the “Indigenous Faith Formation” project is to strengthen evangelization among the Chinanteca indigenous population of Santiago Jocotepec, Choapan, Oaxaca, Mexico. The Chinanteco Indians, like other indigenous groups, suffer various forms of discrimination and have historically been marginalized from economic and integral growth in Mexico. In addition to structural injustice, the arrival of organized crime in recent years has reconfigured the Chinanteca communities and the entire region, threatening the wellbeing of families and especially the youth. Seeds of disintegration sown by family break-up or the arrival of other Christian denomination churches have further led to division, confusion, or indifference in matters of the faith. Combined with the limited number of clergy available to serve a widespread population, there is an urgent need for assistance to reinforce faith formation among the threatened indigenous communities.

The objective of the “Indigenous Faith Formation” project is to facilitate scriptural study in the Chinateca communities by purchasing 1,000 Catholic Bibles of the same edition. The provision of common Bibles will enable communities to effectively participate in Scripture studies and reflections for continuous faith formation, even when an ordained minister cannot be present. In the indigenous Chinanteca communities, many adults are not literate in the Spanish language. However, the children and grandchildren do learn Spanish in school. The Salesians encourage youth to become facilitators in their own homes for the sacred texts, supporting those who cannot read and strengthening bonds of family unity. Salesians train local catechists to provide scriptural orientation to promote more frequent, family reading of the Catholic Bible and continuous reflection on scriptural implications in one’s daily life.