With an emotional celebration marked by reunions and an outstanding artistic presentation, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vicariate of Solidarity was commemorated. The central focus of the tribute was the poetic work of Father Esteban Gumucio, sscc.
During the event, the Cantata of Human Rights was performed. Its lyrics were written by Father Esteban and the music composed by Alejandro Guarello, who was present at the ceremony. The work was masterfully performed by the Student Symphony Orchestra of the Department of Music of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Chile, together with the Andean music group Tempo Sur, all under the musical direction of Professor Miguel Ángel Castro.
A significant milestone of the event was that, for the first time, the Cantata included the recitation by a woman. The poems were recited by actress, singer, and academic Annie Murath, who is also the first female director of the University of Chile Theatre.
The most moving moment of the day, together with the reunion of around one hundred former workers of the Vicariate, was the audience’s singing of the “Song of Hope.” During one of the encores, Annie Murath invited the audience to sing along: “They will not steal our hope, they will not break it.”
The event, held on January 5, was attended by 400 people, filling the capacity of the Antonio Varas Hall of the Chilean National Theatre. Representing the Cause for the Canonization of Esteban Gumucio of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts was its coordinator, Aníbal Pastor.
The event was convened by the University of Chile, through its Vice-Rector’s Office for Extension and Communications, together with the Documentation and Archive Foundation of the Vicariate of Solidarity, and was attended by academic authorities, as well as representatives from the cultural sector and the State.
In his opening speech, the president of the Vicariate of Solidarity Foundation, Javier Luis Egaña, paid tribute to the authors Esteban Gumucio and Alejandro Guarello. Regarding Father Esteban, he highlighted his poetic legacy and noted that his canonization process is moving forward steadily. He also honored the memory of Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez and all those who participated in the original premiere of the Cantata, held on November 25, 1978, at Santiago Cathedral, in the midst of the dictatorship.
Finally, the Rector of the University of Chile, Rosa Devés, emphasized that this activity reaffirms the institution’s commitment to education in Human Rights and democracy. She concluded by honoring the work of the Vicariate and Human Rights organizations, describing this musical work as a fundamental bridge between generations.
01/07/2026