Juan Francisco Amancio González y Escobar
| Juan Francisco Amancio González y Escobar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Juan Francisco Amancio González y Escobar |
| Died | Emboscada, Paraguay |
| Nationality | Paraguayan |
| Known for | Priest |
Juan Francisco Amancio González y Escobar was a Roman Catholic priest responsible for the spiritual colonization of the Christians in Chaco.
Juan Francisco Amancio González y Escobar was son of Captain Francisco González Durán and Josefa Antonia de Escobar y Gutiérrez.
He made his religious studies in Asunción, obtaining the bachelor's degree. He was self-taught in his intellectual formation, which made him deserving the position of Ecclesiastic Prosecutor and Examiner Synodical.
He had great knowledge of Roman and Canonical Law, he was also an eloquent orator and of adventurer temperament.
Father Amancio González, priest of Emboscada, was founder of the Melodía Mission, located in the colony Nueva Burdeos in times of Carlos Antonio López, later called Villa Occidental and nowadays Villa Hayes, capital of the Boquerón department, in the Paraguayan Chaco.
The name Melodía was chosen in homage of the governor Pedro Melo of Portugal, with the purpose of gaining his support in the consolidation of the evangelical project to subdue the natives of the region.
Amancio González was priest in Emboscada since he was ordered in 1761. During the twenty-five years of ministry he suffered along with the citizens, the constant siege of the natives of Chaco, who made that territory hostile, killing, stealing and taking Colonials prisoner.
He wrote in his diaries that the guards near the colonial establishments were insufficient because they lack the necessary resources to stop the attacks.
He thought that it was urgent to establish a population stable enough where he could reach to the natives and conquer with the Faith. He wanted to live among them, gain their trust and integrate them to the civilization.
The previously mentioned mission was established in 1786, thanks to the help of some benefactors and the resources of the priest, who suffered great loss of his patrimony.
The Town Council of Asunción found convenient the establishment of the Mission in the other side of the river, in the part north of the Confuso River. In spite of having recommended it, the help of the government was poor, limiting to the remission of 25 horses as official contribution to the project to convert the natives.
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