|
|
| |
Peru and Venezuela The Marists in Peru and Venezuela are an international grouping of 14 Marist priests from Italy, Spain, Ireland, Philipines, New Zealand and Peru itself. We have two principal goals - mission and implantation. Mission
Our Marist mission places us at the service of the local Peruvian and Venezuelan bishops, to work where the church is weak or not yet established. It is true that the people of both countries are overwhelmingly Catholic and there is a deep spirituality among them. However for many, long term poverty, rapid population growth, internal migration, and urban violence leave them without Christian community or leadership. Even the sacraments, as sources of peace and consolation are largely out of reach. To a spiritual people this is yet another poverty. Implantation Implantation - the second of the goals - seeks to form local people, Peruvians and Venezuelans to be Marists - priests and laypeople. At the moment there are three Peruvian priests while the rest are foreigners. As more Peruvians and Venezuelans become available it is hoped that they will take over this work, bringing their greater understanding and level of communication to their fellow countrymen and women. Currently there are four Venezuelan and 17 Peruvian seminarians. There are two groups of Marist Laity in Venezuela of about 40 members. One secondary school there, and two in Peru, established by the Marists, have lay staffs formed in Marist spirituality. New Zeland Marists in Peru - Venezuela Tony O'Connor has been a member of the District since the 1970's and since 2001 he has had overall responsibily for the work and members of the District. In his time here, Tony has never been far from the poorest of Lima, particularly its youth. Until recently, he was also responsible for the Marist seminary for Peru. He is currently establishing a new youth project with two other Marists in the tough industrial sector of Callao, near the port of Lima. Pat Brophy has been in the District since the mid 80's. He has done a variety of tasks including founding a college in Venezuela. Since 2002 Pat has been working with Peter McAfee on a new project in the border country between Peru and Ecuador (Lancones). They have care of 85 isolated little villages of subsistence farmers - a parish that for the previous 15 years, has had no priest. They are helped by the lay team at the Marist College in the nearby city of Sullana (www.chanel.edu.pe). Pat is the president there and Peter the chaplain. With them is a senior seminarian doing his pastoral year, and 12 pre-seminarians who study and board at the college. Other Projects The District has six works. Pre-novitiate Seminary communities in Peru and Venezuela Urban parishes in Valencia (100,000 parishoners) and in Sullana (65,000 parishoners). Callao youth The border villages (Lancones) project as described above. The Marists are still actively involved in staff formation and youth work in three lay run Marist colleges in Valencia, Callao and Sullana. - Peter McAfee
|
|
|
|
