COSTA RICA

One of the main elders of the Petra Managua church is now in Costa Rica where official non-profit status was established for Petra International Ministries in 2023. Roman Catholicism is the state religious of Costa Rica, but the country is considered one of the most secular in Latin America. Only 45% of Catholics describe themselves as practicing, and the rest are essentially Catholic by title – their parents are Catholic, and they themselves were baptized Catholic. Every year on August 2, Costa Ricans from around the country make their way to the Cartago Basilica. Many make the pilgrimage, known as a romeria, on foot – a feat that can take several days, depending on the starting point. Once in Cartago, the faithful walk, or even crawl on their knees, to the alter to ask the Virgin Mary for guidance or a miracle. Last year, more than one million Costa Ricans, approximately one fourth of the population, made the pilgrimage. There is a dire need for the truth of the gospel in Costa Rica. Please pray for future church planting opportunities in this nation!