Peru Ministry News

• Learn about helping the poor in Peru by sponsoring a family and possible much more. A PowerPoint presentation.

• Deacon Lee's Peru blog

• Many Photos and a movie from a January visit

• Photos of chapel from construction to fiesta after first Mass

• St. Monica Chapel in Village of Los Polvorines
In August 2006, Fr. Uhen visited St. Monica Parish in Edmond and suggested that it might be nice if we funded a chapel in a poor village near Piura. We immediately jumped on the idea and St. Monica Capilla was build with the help of missionaries from St. Monica in June 2007. Deacon Lee blessed the chapel that summer

The chapel is in Sector C of the village of Los Polvorines. This large and relatively new village is divided into three sectors and the St. Monica Capilla is in the southern most sector. The chapel is visible from the Pan American Highway.

This January a metal roof was added to the chapel, with the help of parishioner Dean Herzog. Fr. Uhen celebrated the first Mass in the chapel and Deacon Lee served as deacon. It was fantastic! We also had a fiesta in the evening during which Fr. Uhen, Dean, and Deacon Lee participated in Peruvian dances.

Since the village and chapel are new, they will require nurturing to develop. Many marriages have to be regularized and children baptized. The presence of the chapel will help bring many into a regular relationship with Jesus.

To help establish the chapel as a pleasing place of worship, we bought 43 chairs in January. A painting of St. Monica is being prepared for dedication during the mission trip this June. We have asked for a cost estimate for a framed crucifix and an altar to replace the table.

The parish in Piura had its first stewardship fair in January. St. Monica Capilla proudly displayed information at their booth.

In April, St. Monica Parish began feeding breakfast 5 days per week to 123 children in Sector C of the village. This allows them to go to school with food in their bellies and hopefully learn better. First breakfast


• Clothes needed for Peruvians.
St. Monica sponsors 87 families who live in northern Peru on about $2 per day. Their parish has 35,000 people. We make shipments to them once per quarter. Please leave used clothing, shoes, and house-ware items in good condition in bags in the Commons at St. John the Baptist at 9th and Littler in Edmond. The door to the Commons is always open. Photos of clothes distribution.