La Virgen Misionera de Hesayne. Proyecto pastoral y territorial de una advocación mapuche en el espacio rionegrino (1978-1979)

Abstract

In the mid-sixties, in the newly formed provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro, the new atmosphere of the Second Vatican Council brought to the dioceses a pleiad of priests, religious men and women who sought to implement the “option for the poor” especially from the bishoprics of Jaime De Nevares (1961-1991) and Miguel Esteban Hesayne (1975-1993). In this context, in 1978 Bishop Hesayne decided to create a devotional symbol more identified with the region to join all the faithful people of the various Rio Negro parishes. In this article we are interested in deepening, not only in the pastoral project of the construction of the image from the symbolic point, but also delving into its territorial project, in how that image with Mapuche features, through its Marian journey, territorializes and makes the provincial space sacred. Based on this and focused on a qualitative method, we propose to work with variety of sources: written (Archives of the Bishopric of Viedma —brochures, drafts and minutes of meetings—, Diocesan Bulletins, Post Synod Exhortation of 1983-1984, homilies of the bishop and publications such as "letters from the bishop"), oral (priests’ interviews); and visuals (photographs, bulk Marian images and field work photographs).