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Father Astudillo prays during a Sunday service at San Lorenzo parish during the COVID 19 pandemic in Toronto. November, 2020.

El padre Astudillo reza durante un servicio dominical en la parroquia de San Lorenzo durante la pandemia de COVID 19 en Toronto. Noviembre de 2020.

“If Jesus were alive today, he would not be hiding in his church. He would be out with his people,” says Father Hernan Astudillo. When the pandemic hit and places of worship were forced to close their doors, Astudillo took his message of hope and solidarity online and on the road. Astudillo leads the congregation at San Lorenzo Church near Dufferin and Lawrence. The congregation of approximately 500 is made up almost exclusively of immigrants and refugees from across Latin America, many of whom had fled the conflicts of the 70s and 80s that spread across South and Central America.

A Congregation Apart, for The Local.

“Si Jesús estuviera vivo hoy, no se escondería en su iglesia. Saldría con su gente ”, dice el padre Hernán Astudillo.
Cuando la pandemia golpeó y los lugares de culto se vieron obligados a cerrar sus puertas, Astudillo llevó su mensaje de esperanza y solidaridad en línea y en la carretera.
Astudillo dirige la congregación en la iglesia de San Lorenzo cerca de Dufferin y Lawrence. La congregación de aproximadamente 500 está compuesta casi exclusivamente por inmigrantes y refugiados de toda América Latina, muchos de los cuales habían huido de los conflictos de los años 70 y 80 que se extendieron por América del Sur y Central.

Una Congregación Aparte, para The Local.
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3 of 11 © 2024 Yader Guzman

A statue of Saint Oscar Romero stands outside of San Lorenzo Parish in Toronto. November, 2020.

Una estatua de San Oscar Romero se encuentra fuera de la Parroquia de San Lorenzo en Toronto. Noviembre de 2020.

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Carmen Rosa greets Astudillo at her door with a bottle of hand sanitizer. November, 2020.

Carmen Rosa recibe a Astudillo en su puerta con una botella de desinfectante para manos. Noviembre de 2020.

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Rosa and Astudillo pray together in Rosa’s home. November. 2020.

Rosa y Astudillo rezan juntos en la casa de Rosa. Noviembre de 2020.

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A lone parishioner attends a Sunday service at San Lorenzo. November, 2020.

Un feligrés solitario asiste a un servicio dominical en San Lorenzo. Noviembre de 2020.

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Astudillo in his car, on his way to visit with two families who not been able to attend service in person due to health concerns. November, 2020.

Astudillo en su automóvil, de camino a visitar a dos familias que no pudieron asistir al servicio en persona debido a problemas de salud. Noviembre de 2020.

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Astudillo reads from the Bible with the Rojas family in their home. November, 2020.

Astudillo lee la Biblia con la familia Rojas en su casa. Noviembre de 2020.

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Astudillo has taken to broadcasting his service on social media platforms in order to connect with followers who are reluctant to attend in person due to the pandemic. November, 2020.

Astudillo ha empezado a difundir su servicio en las redes sociales para conectar con seguidores que se resisten a asistir en persona debido a la pandemia. Noviembre de 2020.

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Marco Suarez and Rosa Cuesta lead daily prayers over zoom with family spread across the U.S., Spain, Cuba and Ecuador from their Richmond Hill apartment. November, 2020.

Marco Suárez y Rosa Cuesta dirigen las oraciones diarias sobre el zoom con la familia repartida por los EE. UU., España, Cuba y Ecuador desde su apartamento de Richmond Hill. Noviembre de 2020.

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Astudillo in his office at the parish home. November, 2020.

Astudillo en su despacho de la casa parroquial. Noviembre de 2020.

Public Story
A Congregation Apart
Copyright Yader Guzman 2024
Updated Dec 2021
Location toronto
Topics Christianity, Documentary, Pandemics, Photography, Religion
“If Jesus were alive today, he would not be hiding in his church. He would be out with his people,” says Father Hernan Astudillo. When the pandemic hit and places of worship were forced to close their doors, Astudillo took his message of hope and solidarity online and on the road. Astudillo leads the congregation at San Lorenzo Church near Dufferin and Lawrence. The congregation of approximately 500 is made up almost exclusively of immigrants and refugees from across Latin America, many of whom had fled the conflicts of the 70s and 80s that spread across South and Central America.

A Congregation Apart, for The Local.
“Si Jesús estuviera vivo hoy, no se escondería en su iglesia. Saldría con su gente ”, dice el padre Hernán Astudillo.
Cuando la pandemia golpeó y los lugares de culto se vieron obligados a cerrar sus puertas, Astudillo llevó su mensaje de esperanza y solidaridad en línea y en la carretera.
Astudillo dirige la congregación en la iglesia de San Lorenzo cerca de Dufferin y Lawrence. La congregación de aproximadamente 500 está compuesta casi exclusivamente por inmigrantes y refugiados de toda América Latina, muchos de los cuales habían huido de los conflictos de los años 70 y 80 que se extendieron por América del Sur y Central.

Una Congregación Aparte, para The Local.

Yader Guzman

Yader Guzman - Documentary & photojournalist based between Toronto, Canada, and Bogotá, Colombia.
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