Mercy in Peru . . . An Appeal

We want to give you, who have been special friends of our work in Peru, a glimpse of life there today and of Mercy’s continuing presence in partnership with our sisters and the people of Peru.

––Sister Deborah Watson, RSM

A Day in the Life of Graciela
Graciela works very hard from dawn to darkness. She gets up early, makes a fire, prepares a potato soup for the family’s breakfast, and then heats milk for the four children still at home, if it is available. She then goes out to tend to the animals (a cow or two and a small flock of sheep) and pastures them for the day. Often she will leave one of the children or her mother with the animals, so she can go into town, walking an hour each way, to sell fuel for small primus stoves and thereby supplement the family income. On some days she may participate in Mothers’ Club activities in the village, which include a government-sponsored milk program for children. At planting and harvesting time, much of the day is spent in the fields, which are another long walk from their house on the hill. Serafin, her husband, helps her when he is not in town working in his little barber shop stand or attending to his duties as a community catechist. In the evening, before darkness falls about 6 p.m., Graciela must make sure that the animals are all accounted for, that the children have arrived safely from school, and then she prepares another soup, possibly with a bit of dried meat, for the family supper. If the day’s business has been successful, they may have a piece of bread or fruit. Rather recently, the house has electricity so Graciela, whose primary language is Aymara, will encourage the children to do their homework, before going to bed early.

Graciela

Works of Mercy in Peru
We currently have exactly 20 sisters, only six of whom are non-Peruvian. One of our big expenses is the education of our young Peruvian Sisters, so that they are well prepared to serve in one of our missions. In the north, in Chulucanas and Pacaipampa, we work in parish ministry, secondary education, special programs for girls at risk, and women and family centers, both in the town and in rural areas. In these centers women form coops to create and market their handmade items. Their work together creates opportunities for them to grow as women. We sponsor animal raising and improved kitchen facilities projects as outreaches of these centers. In Chimbote we are involved in secondary education, youth work, alternative medicine, a women’s center specializing in leadership training, and legal and psychological counseling services for women and families. We sponsor a community-based project which educates and advocates for the availability and safe and appropriate use of water. In Lima we have sisters working in formation, pastoral and health ministry. And in Puno, where we go on mission several times a year, we assist women artisans both in the marketing of their knitted items and in their on-going education as women. Convinced as was our foundress Catherine McAuley, that education is a way out of poverty and dehumanization, we sponsor a program of scholarships for young women in each of our geographic areas.

An Appeal of Hope
This Easter season we ask for the help of our friends to continue this important ministry in Peru. Your sponsorship of $50 will pay for one month of educational support for one of our Peruvian women. If you can, please consider a six-month sponsorship of $300 or one full year for $600. You also can make monthly payments easily through our on-line system using your credit card. For under $2 a day you can make a major difference in the future of a Peruvian woman and her entire family.

• $50 sponsors a woman’s education for one month

• $150 sponsors a woman’s education for three months

• $300 sponsors a woman’s education for six months

• $300 sponsors the University education of one of our sister students for one month

• $600 sponsors a woman’s education for a full year

Please chose Peru Mission in the drop-down Ministry menu, and choose recurring donation if you wish to give every month.