Posted by Project of the Week on 12/6/2012, 1:14 pm
Board Administrator

Peru: A small training centre for catechists Sometimes the Sisters of Jesus Word and Victim (Hermanas de Jesus Verbo y Victima) in Peru have to travel for up to 14 hours. Riding on a horse or a mule, they journey to the remote Andes villages, bringing help and comfort to the people. There are 75 villages altogether in the parish of Saint John the Baptist, which was established only in the year 2000. There are many problems in the region. There is great poverty, there are few schools, there is far too little medical help. There is widespread illiteracy too, especially among the women. Many people move away in search of work in the cities. It is quite normal for even little children to have to work. There is no piped water or electricity supply. Above all there is widespread alcoholism, which is destroying families. Although the people are deeply religious, most know little about their Catholic faith. Hence it is small wonder that many still seek out medicine men or spiritual healers when they have problems. Their faith is mingled with superstition, and pagan elements are not hard to find. Many people, even among those who are baptised, know little about their Catholic faith. Which is why it is so important for the Church to be present. But since there is such a shortage of priests, it is the sisters who have to carry the main burden of the pastoral work on their shoulders and help the people in their everyday needs. They support the families, run groups for children, young people and adults, pray with the people and give catechetical instruction. But since not even the sisters can be present all of the time in all the villages, the local catechists also play a vital role. They live in the villages among their fellow believers and so are able to lead them and help them to practise their faith on a daily basis. (Catechists celebrating Christmas in the parish of Saint John the Baptist) But these catechists must themselves first be trained, so that they can help the faithful to truly make their own the Good News of Jesus Christ. The sisters have organised this aspect as well. Three times a year a one-week course is held for the catechists. However, this is a new and extremely poor parish and as a result there is no suitable place for giving the courses, and still less, any kind of suitable accommodation where the catechists can stay overnight - since most live a long way away and cannot return home at night to sleep. Many of them travel for up to 14 hours in order to be able to take part in the courses. And so the plan is to build a little centre, with rooms for the training sessions and overnight accommodation for the catechists themselves. The foundations have in fact already been laid, but the money has run out and so work has had to stop. Given the fierce mountain weather and the frequent torrential rainfall, the work that has already been done is now suffering damage. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need has stepped in to help this project with a grant of $7,000. The vital work of Catholic charities like Aid to the Church In Need provide a lifeline to the Church wherever she is poor, persecuted or threatened. Please help our work by donating online or send your donation to Aid to the Church in Need, PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Ph: (02) 9679-1929