BREAKING Nuns Depart Nicaragua After 30 Years of Mission Amid Religious Persecution but Deny Expulsion
Capuchin Tertiary Sisters Possibly Forced Out of Nicaragua After 30 Years
The Catholic Church in Nicaragua faces another blow as the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family have been allegedly forced to end their mission in Totogalpa. After three decades of service to the indigenous Chorotega community, the sisters are the latest victims of what international observers describe as a systematic campaign of religious persecution by the Ortega-Murillo regime.
However, in a statement from Saturday, January 24, 2026, the nuns announced their decision to end their pastoral presence in the country, noting that the objectives that motivated their mission “have been fulfilled.” The message was released, they explained, to clarify the closure of their work in Totogalpa “in light of false information circulating on social media.” "Therefore, the decision has been made to end our pastoral presence, trusting that the seed that was planted will continue to grow in the hands of this parish community,” said the message signed by Sister Maribelle Umaña Machado, provincial superior of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province.
A Departure Under Duress
While the congregation issued a formal statement on January 24, 2026, claiming their mission goals had been "fulfilled," local sources and ecclesiastical reports paint a more coercive picture. The departure follows a year of:
Constant Surveillance: Reports of a "prolonged siege" and harassment by State machinery.
Ultimatums: Sources indicate the sisters were given a deadline to leave the country.
Asset Liquidation: Fearing the state confiscations common under the current regime, the sisters were forced to sell their mission vehicle and distribute personal belongings before moving their operations to Guatemala.
The Impact on Totogalpa
The sisters were a vital pillar for the 17,000 residents of Totogalpa. Beyond evangelization, they provided:
Social Support: Operating as a center for the most vulnerable.
Lay Formation: Leading catechesis and spiritual accompaniment, especially during periods when priests were unavailable.
Community Stability: Serving as a consistent presence for over 30 years in the department of Madriz.
A Pattern of Systematic Persecution
According to investigative lawyer Marta Patricia Molina, author of Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church, the regime uses coercion and extortion to silence religious orders. "Some congregations give in to threats... they are forced to close their pastoral presence not because they want to, but because of the threat involved," Molina noted.
Broader Context of the Crackdown: | Status of Religious Orders | Key Details | Total Expulsions | Approx. 132 nuns expelled or barred from re-entry as of 2025. | | Affected Groups | Missionaries of Charity, Trappist Nuns, Dominican Sisters, and others. | | State Tactics | Freezing bank accounts, canceling legal status, and 72-hour expulsion notices. |
The true number of affected religious remains unknown, as many sisters in exile refrain from reporting attacks due to safety concerns for those remaining in Nicaragua.
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