TRELEW, ARGENTINA — Church and government leaders gathered in southern Argentina’s Patagonia region earlier this month for an intensive training on safeguarding and child protection, culminating in the inauguration of a new Listening Centre in Patagonia’s Chubut province. 

The event, held on May 10–11 in the city of Trelew, was organised as part of Proyecto Memorare, a joint initiative by the Diocese of Rawson and state agencies to bolster systems for abuse prevention and support for vulnerable individuals. 

Chubut, a sprawling province in the heart of Patagonia, is known for its dramatic landscapes and scattered communities. In this remote setting, the Catholic Church has nurtured a pastoral approach defined by simplicity, proximity, and a deep sense of care for the marginalised. Local leaders describe it as a “young Church” now embracing a safer, more inclusive model of ministry. 

The training was led by Dr. Patricia Espinosa, Commission member and moderator for the Regional Group for the Americas, alongside Father Daniel Portillo, the Commission’s regional expert for Latin America. 

Participants included representatives from the Argentine ministries of Education, Human Development and Family, and the Attorney General’s office, along with local child protection agencies. Protection teams from all six Patagonian dioceses, Comodoro Rivadavia, Río Gallegos, San Carlos de Bariloche, Viedma, Neuquén, and Rawson also took part, as did volunteers from Caritas. 

“The Church and civil authorities are working together, understanding that violence, in any of its different expresions,  is a problem that must be addressed jointly, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that children and adolescents can live in safe environments, free from all forms of abuse.”   

Dr. Patricia Espinosa

In total, around 100 people attended the event, many travelling more than 800 kilometres by land from across the region. Organisers highlighted the turnout as a testament to the shared commitment of Church and State to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 

“This level of collaboration is the fruit of sustained trust and shared responsibility. It’s a model that other regions could learn from: one rooted in dialogue, transparency, and accountability.” – Father Daniel Portillo. 

During the same visit, Church officials inaugurated the Trelew Listening Centre, the first of four planned across Patagonia. The centre aims to provide a safe, respectful space for survivors of abuse, with a focus on accompaniment and healing. 

Bishop Roberto Álvarez of Rawson presided over the blessing of the new centre, which was attended by the diocesan protection commission and members of the local clergy. The opening was described as a milestone in the diocese’s ongoing journey of pastoral reform. 

Backed by the Commission’s regional team, Proyecto Memorare has served as a platform for coordinated action between Church and civil authorities in Argentina. Dr. Espinosa noted that the initiative illustrates how safeguarding can be embedded into the Church’s broader mission. 

“What we’re seeing here is a Church that doesn’t treat prevention as an add-on. It’s an integral part of how we serve, how we evangelise, and how we respond to the call to justice.” – Dr. Patricia Espinosa 

The establishment of the Listening Centre and the collaborative training in Trelew mark the latest chapter in a growing movement for child protection in Latin America, one that seeks not only to respond to past wounds but to build a culture of safety for the future. 

As the effort expands across Patagonia, participants say it carries a message far beyond Argentina’s borders. 

“In a land where the continent ends and the horizon begins, this work reaffirms a truth we hold dear: that the dignity of every person must always remain at the heart of our mission.”

Father Daniel Portillo