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Sisters of Mercy Celebrate 25 Years of Mission in Peru In the middle of the worst El Niño phenomenon on record, that of 1983,
the Sisters of Mercy (Madres de Misericordia in Peru) began their mission in
the diocesis of Chulucanas, Peru. One year early two members of their
leadership team (Mary Trainer and Sr. Pat) had visited various parts of Peru
and
And so on Feb. 3, 1983 the first three sisters arrived in Lima where they
immersed themselves in language studies for several months and then in
mid-June arrived in Chulucanas. Mary Ellen McKenna, Connie Haughton
and Mary Klock were the initial group of "founders" of the new mission.
They spend the first six months in Chulucanas
Little by little other sisters came to join them, some for long stays and others for shorter ones, but among them all the spirit of the Lord's mercy was shown to his people. And so, 25 years later, it was appropriate to stop and give thanks to God and to all who made this mission a possibility. At 5pm on May 3rd the mass began, presided by Bishop Dan Turley, John McNabb's successor. The church had a large presence of Mercy sisters from various parts of Peru who joined together for this most significant celebration. After Bishop Turley's brief homily, where he underscored the continuing spiritual presence of Sr. Mercedes who died and is buried in Chulucanas, Sr. Mary Ellen gave a reflection about how much the people of Chulucanas have given to the sisters over the years. It was a moving tribute, interrupted several time with applause. At the end of the mass, another of the founders, Mary Klock also gave a
testimony of the first night when they arrived in Chulucanas with so much
destruction as a result
Following the mass everyone went to Center Betania one of the important
projects the Sisters of Mercy have began to help raise the dignity of women
in an ambience of machismo that is deeply rooted in the society. There
some lay collaborators of the sisters gave testimonies of how much their
presence has meant in the lives of the people, especially the women in
Pacaipampa and Chulucanas. This was followed by a toast offered by the
A special gift of a key chain (symbolic of the openning of hearts) were given to the three founding sisters and the two members of the leadership team that had the vision of coming to Chulucanas (and who returned for the anniversary celebration). Some of the youth that work with the sisters offered several special dances, and then everyone was invited to join in the celebration of dance to bring the evening to a fitting conclusion. "25 years enveloped in Mercy. We give thanks for being here with us this evening, in this liturgy of thanksgiving and during these 25 years... with us in prayer, in the mission, in friendship and love...Mery mutually shared. Let us pray that "Our hearts can always be in the same place, centered on God." (back page of the mass booklet) |
other
Latin American countries to look for a new mission for the group centered in
Merion, PA. They were struck by the warm welcome extended to them by
the bishop of Chulucanas, John McNabb, OSA and by the spirit of mutual
support among all the pastoral workers, priests, religious and laity that
endured the leadership team that the sisters, while far from the support of
other Mercy sisters, would not really be alone.
becoming
familiar with the pastoral plan of the dioceses and promoting health care
programs with other religious, especially Sr. Dora Medina of the Franciscans
Sisters of Rochester, MN. Then in 1984, along with a group of
Augustinian priests, they headed off to the mountains by car and by horse
back, into the far away parish of Pacaipampa where they established their
first community.
of
the rains caused by the El Niño phenomenon that year, and yet how much the
people welcomed them into their homes and hearts. Special words of
thanks were directed by Sr. Mary to Bishop McNabb, Bishop Turley and the
Augustinians that accompanied them to the mission in Pacaipampa. 
bishop
and the sharing of sandwiches and cookies.