- October 25, 2024
Dear All:
I am here in Peru visiting my sisters. I arrived on September 16th and will leave on December 3rd.
Our congregation was invited to Peru in 1962 to provide services in health care, education and pastoral care. Now 16 Sisters of St. Joseph live here, 13 Peruvian and 3 from the U.S.A.
I came to Peru to live in community and to visit our ministries here. I am learning how to recognize our charism of love of God and the dear neighbor without distinction in this land, in this culture.
Water is precious; safe water is important, hot water is a luxury. Water is heated by gas, electricity or sun. Washing machines are great when we have enough water! I enjoy our main meal (almuerzo) in community in the middle of the day. All meals are tasty and nutritious with juices from local fruits. My favorite juice maracuya is from passion fruit.
I help in the Center House in the kitchen as needed; I bring meals to persons who are ill, I accompany sisters to the mercado. One sister explained the inner organs of a chicken hanging from the line at the market! I have sampled cuy, guinea pig. It was sweet.
I traveled with two sisters, Anne and Yoli to Cajmarca in the northern highlands one weekend on a “red eye” express bus. It took 17 hours from Lima to Cajamarca. I had altitude and motion sickness but arrived safely and rested. The next day I went with Anne and Yoli to Yoli’s family wedding. Jacqueline from Peru married Wilfrans from Ecuador. After the marriage in Church we went to a dinner reception with folklorico dances, jazz music, food and speeches. The celebration went from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. I couldn’t get to sleep because I was dancing in my body!
Another week I traveled to Tacna in the southern desert near Chile to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the San Jose Fe y Alegria #40 School. There are 82 Fe y Alegria Schools in Peru that provide primary and secondary education. Fe y Alegria means Faith and Joy. Those words describe the school! The schools were started by a Jesuit priest; they are financed by the government and private grants. Students come from families in financial need. Some are at risk for learning because of family instability. Our sisters have been directors, administrators, teachers and counselors.
I accompanied S. Zaida to the celebration. She was the first sister director of Fe y Alegria many years ago. We stayed in Tacna with three sisters who serve at the school now. The celebration lasted five days! We enjoyed a parade, a concert, a program of folklorico dances, music, readings of poetry, presentations of awards and gifts, mass in the cathedral, a dinner for teachers, lots of speeches and hugs. We are sad to leave Tacna this December yet the school is in good hands.
I brought my bilingual puppet Lilly to the school. She spoke Spanish and English. One little girl was timid and didn’t speak. Lilly invited her to sit down. The girl felt at ease and wrote answers to questions. Other children were eager to speak in English and gathered around us to learn words.
In years past we Sisters of St. Joseph raised funds to help build the school. “Bricks for Tacna.” The school is built on solid ground and will last with the help of God and our co-partners in mission.
Peace in God’s great love,
