Latest News from Fr Joe and H and N Peru Mission
October 08
Fr Joe Plumb returned to Peru in August, as part of the Missionary Society of St.James the Apostle. He writes:
Dear Friends of “H&N Peru Mission”,
As most of you know, for a variety of reasons, towards the end of 2007, it seemed the right time to leave the work we had been involved in as part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos. Having arrived back in Peru on Tuesday 12th August, and with a month having now passed, I felt it was time to write and let you know how “H&N Peru Mission” is developing.
In June 2008, after various conversations and overtures, I became a member of the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, an organisation of diocesan priests, who remain part of their dioceses, whilst ministering in Latin America. Since returning here in August I have been visiting several parishes where St. James’ Society priests are working, as well as visiting possible areas where we are keen to open new missions.
Padre Ruel
After my being here for just 2 weeks, a 38yr-old Filipino priest, Ruel Acerga Santos, fell ill with altitude sickness whilst in his parish of Velilla, eight hours drive past Cuzco, in the Prelature of Sicuani. I was asked to go up there and accompany Ruel back to Lima. Asking around, I found him in a clinic in Cuzco, (his lungs having collapsed, and his heart having been put under great strain), and stayed 4 days while he stabilised, then brought him back down here to Lima, where he was once again treated in a good clinic, and is now recuperating. He has been strongly advised by his doctors not to return to the altitude. This is very difficult for him after two years working with the “campesinos” in the high Andes, but he is now keen to pursue another mission commitment.
New Mission Project
There are many areas of Peru that are largely without pastoral attention or Church presence. We are planning to visit several areas to speak to diocesan bishops about such areas where there is great need to evangelise, identify needs and local resources and begin to form networks of community and ecclesial leaders, in order to build up Christian communities. Once decided upon, we hope to locate a new mission parish in a rural area, from which we can serve a whole string of communities. The area is likely to be along the coastal desert stretch running north from Lima, so that we also have access to Lima and to the monthly meetings that the Society has, to share ideas, develop strategies for support, and recharge our batteries.
The Parish of “The Risen One”.
In the meantime, I am working in the parish of “El Resucitado” in Ate Vitarte, out in a very poor, extensive “barriada” in the diocese of Chosica, to the south east of Lima. This area was a hot-bed of “Sendero Luminoso” (“Shining Path”- a Maoist communist revolutionary terrorist organization) activity in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and the church was not welcome, (for sick-calls and funerals, priests would be met at the limit of the barrio and escorted in and out of the area), but now, the two priests from Limerick who have gone there and established a real relationship and commitment between the population and the parish, have made the Church a real force for change and a true sign of hope in the area.
There are ten chapels, two nursery schools where mothers can leave children whilst they go to work, and three “comedores populares” (food-kitchens), which each day feed 500 children from the poorest families.
This new parish has only been established since February 2006, yet in the last two weeks we have elected and then in the Sunday Mass last weekend, we commissioned a Parish Pastoral Council, with representatives from all the chapels, Youth Group, Social Pastoral/Human Rights Commission, the Catechetical/Liturgical Team and one of the priests.
Links with Schools and Parishes in Hexham & Newcastle Diocese
We are planning trips and links from high schools in Hexham & Newcastle, to work in, and support, the “comedores populares”, as well as to get to know the people of the parish, the young people, and to experience the way of life of the people here. Once in a new parish mission, it would be great to develop similar links between schools and parishes, with human and social development projects to improve the lives of the people.
October - Month of “El Señor de Los Milagros”.
The fervent religious devotion and expression of belief of the Latin American peoples is famous. The month of October is given over in Peru, to prayer, religious observance, (attendance at Masses), penitence, fasting, and almsgiving. Processions with the image of “The Lord of the Miracles”, dressing in purple robes, praying rosaries, making confessions, attending Masses and the making of solemn vows and offerings are all forms of expressing sorrow for the injustices, inequalities and corruption of Peruvian society; for the personal infidelities of the Peruvian people, and as a means of asking for prayers to be heard. The whole nation lives this month with amazing intensity. May it be a time for us to renew our commitment to Jesus Christ and to His promise of a Kingdom of full life, love, joy, peace and justice.
Please keep us and our work on behalf of the poorest of the poor, in your prayers.
As ever, with the assurance of the prayers and thanks of all who benefit from our work,
Fr Joe Plumb (on behalf of H&N Peru Mission).
Fr Joe in the Andes
Any donations can be made by cheque made out to "H&N Peru Mission" and sent to:
Fr Peter Carr
St Cuthberts,
Ropery Lane,
Chester-le-St
Co Durham
DH3 3PH
All donations will receive an acknowledgement slip.
Please keep H&N Peru Mission and its work in your prayers.