With a day of recognition and prayer for police officers and their families, the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic (ACIERA) brought its "Iglesia Presente" ("Church Present") program to Berisso. According to the alliance, the event took place Sept. 11 at the municipal campground and focused on the personal, family and spiritual needs of those who work in security.
The event was led by Mayor Fabián Cagliardi and Solange Marcos, undersecretary for Citizen Participation at the Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Security. Pastors from the city and a delegation headed by ACIERA President Christian Hooft took part.
"Those who wear the uniform face the harshness of crime, but they are people with families and emotional needs. With this program, which has already been to Quilmes, Almirante Brown and Tigre, we want to bring them support, respect and honor," Hooft said, according to the alliance's statement.
His words pointed to one of the initiative's aims: to bring faith communities closer to officers through listening, prayer and accompaniment.
ACIERA Executive Vice President Jorge Gómez also spoke to that commitment. "To bless means to speak well of the police and to accompany them in prayer, because they watch over us and put their bodies on the line for the community," he said.
During the ceremony, plaques were presented to the heads of 10 police stations and units: Police Stations 1, 2, 3 and 4; the Women's and Family Police Station; the Berisso Sub-DDI (investigations unit); the Patrol Command; the Neighborhood Proximity Force; and the Villa Progreso and Los Talas substations.
Pastors Gabriel Coria, the program's coordinator, and David Patiño, a member of ACIERA's Board of Directors, moderated the presentation. Also in attendance were Mauricio Giménez, president of the Berisso Pastoral Council, and Chief Superintendent Diego Espíndola, evangelical chaplain of the Buenos Aires Province Police.
The program has been held before in other municipalities in Buenos Aires Province. On Sept. 12, 2024, a gathering was held at the Cristo para Todos (Christ for All) church in Adrogué, with the participation of the Almirante Brown Pastoral Council. Awards and copies of the New Testament were presented there, as reported by La Tercera.
A month later, on Oct. 10, 2024, the program came to Benavídez. The Municipality of Tigre reported that the initiative provided for two pastors to visit each police station to offer assistance. At that launch, Hooft identified Quilmes and Almirante Brown as the initiative's first locations.
These precedents show that the program aims to sustain a relationship between churches and police stations beyond the recognition ceremonies.
In Berisso, the day concluded with a prayer led by Pastor Arnaldo Chazarreta for the officers, their families and local residents. According to ACIERA, the gathering sought to strengthen collaboration between religious institutions and authorities in supporting those who serve the community.
