Bishop's News from Peru

IDENTITY PAPERS FOR 415 CHILDREN

2010-06-29T19:37:00.004-05:00

Many countries do not have official GOVERNMENT IDENTITY PAPERS, but Peru does.
Yet many children and adults, especially in poor areas, do not have them. This will be a great handicap as they grow up. For example, they won’t be able to find proper work, receive medical treatment, gain educational qualifications, or drive a car.
Yet many parents are reluctant to take the necessary steps to provide their children with a formal identity... they don’t know how to fill in the forms, it takes too much time and they can’t miss work, it costs too much, they don’t live near the child’s place of birth, and a host of other reasons. It is estimated that one third of children in Peru do not have their papers, the majority being among the poor, who then get further disadvantaged.
The government has a programme aimed at the problem, but parents are not taking it up.
Now the Diocese, through its NGO, COMMUNION-PERU, is involved in helping parents and educating them about the importance of their children being registered. In its first campaign the Diocese helped 415 children and some adults to get their official papers, their DNI, as it is called.
The work is led by the Diocesan Social Worker, Erika Montoya, and the 415 represent much hard, dedicated work. But success breeds success, and the next round should be a little easier as many parents, seeing what has been done for their neighbours’ children, are asking for the same help. Well done Erika and her team of volunteers.
[Erika was trained as a social worker through a USPG grant.]

TWO NEW DEACONS IN THE SOUTH

2010-06-29T18:30:00.003-05:00

There will be two new deacons in the South of Peru, LUIS VIZCARRA and JUAN MARCOS AYALA.
The date of their ordination has been set for Saturday, July 31 in Cristo Redentor, Arequipa. Both ordinands have been trained in the Diocesan Seminary in Arequipa.
Luis will continue to serve in the Mission Santa María Magdalena, Juliaca, and Juan Marcos in Mission San Lucas and Mission Santiago Apóstol, both in Arequipa.
Juan Marcos is perhaps better known to those who have visited Arequipa as the owner of the Hostal Paraiso, together with his wife Vicki, where visiting mission teams stay. He was converted during the visit of one of the first teams to visit Arequipa several years ago.
For the past few months Juan Marcos has been ministering in Santiago Ap. and has drawn together a growing congregation. He can be seen in the photo with the congregation in the half built church. Nestor Mogollón, another lay minister who assists Juan Marcos, can be seen in the front right of the photo.
These are the first Anglican ordinations in Arequipa and the first outside Lima.

Special Sunday at San Mateo Mission

2009-11-09T12:19:00.007-05:00

The San Mateo (St Matthew) Mission and School don't have a church, but they do have a piece of land, and there the people meet to worship our Lord and God. Padre Jorge Aguilar is the parish priest, assisted by Padre Jesus Manuel Mejia, and Brother Jerry Acosta, a lay minister.
Sundays begin with catechism class at 9am, preparing candidates for Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation. Then they get ready for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 10.30am.
Last Sunday, 8th November 2009, was a special day, because parents and children of the School were presenting an icon of the evangelist and apostle, St Matthew, for the chapel. There's a great affection for the chapel, even though it's no more than an empty building lot. But it's been made beautiful and the area with the altar-table and lectern have been finished with cement, so with the flowers and banners, its a worthy place for God's people.
Brother Jerry was an evangelical pastor who, with his family, have become Anglicans. We are blessed to have his experience as a church planter and preacher, and he is delighted to have the liturgy and commitment to social outreach.
Padre Jesus was a Roman Catholic priest who, with his family, have become Anglicans. We are blessed to have his experience as a parish priest and educator, and he is delighted to have the Scriptures opened in a new way.
And all of the team work together in wonderful harmony, pooling their gifts and experience. Anglicanism is truly blessed to have a breadth and openness which allows God's children to use their gifts together in this way.

CALLED TO LEAD MISSION: SUPPORT URGENTLY NEEDED

2009-10-20T10:07:00.009-05:00

Fr Mike and Linda Chapman have been called to lead mission and church planting work in south-central Peru. At present they are fund raising in the US under the cover of SAMS.

THEY URGENTLY NEED PRAYER
AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Their responsibility will be to plant a new diocese in the region of Ica, Ayacucho and Huancayo.
Fr Mike will stand in the episcopal election before Easter 2010, and if elected will be sent as a missionary bishop. He is deeply committed to mission work and is a gifted evangelist and teacher, and Linda has a ministry of prayer and intercession. They came to Peru in 2008 and were involved with the parishes and missions of Lima. Fr Mike led a clergy retreat and is loved and respected by many in the Diocese.
If you or your church will support them, please contact either
SAMS USA 724 266 0669 or
SUSAN KERR 972 618 0222.
To support Fr Mike and Linda you will be enabling the advance in mission of God's kingdom in Peru.

PADRE MISAEL AND CLAUDIA TO GO TO ICA

2009-09-08T13:44:00.008-05:00

Padre Misael and Claudia Varillas are being sent to Ica to develop mission work in what will become eventually a new diocese. They have responded to God's call and after more than ten years in charge of Cristo Redentor in south Lima will soon be on their way to take up this exciting challenge.

They stand out for me as the right people to send, because of their faithfulness to the Lord and his Church and their experience. They love the Lord, the Gospel and his Church, and their loyalty and willingness to preach and serve in loving obedience is an example. When I asked them formally if they would go, they responded with an immediate 'Yes' and thanked me for the privilege!

It is our intention is to send others with them and we are praying for discernment about the right people. They will work with Padre Mike and Linda Chapman, who are coming from the Church in the USA to work in Ica and are at present doing deputation work to raise funds.

Manpower and money are two challenges which always accompany mission.... who to send and how to support them. So we praying not only for the right people to send with them, but also that dioceses, churches and individuals will be willing to commit to support them.

It is a wonderful opportunity for the Diocese too and one we want to take with both hands, giving support in every way we can - with teams going down to help, and special collections and prayer.

It is an emotional time as Padre Misael and Claudia say farewell to their two congregations, but also one of great excitement. All their children are grown up, except for Miriam who has just finished school and is beginning university, and her older brothers and sisters will have the special task of looking after her.

Our mission work began in Ica two years ago, following the devastating earth quake on August 15th. The Diocese responded by sending teams of people to help those who were so dreadfully effected. We set up soup kitchens and medical posts and stood alongside the people in their hour of need. As they saw the Anglican Church's response, they asked us to begin worship services, and eventually to stay there with them as their church. We have tried to do that, even though for the past year we have only been able to send clergy and lay ministers from Lima on a regular basis. We have known it has not been enough and that there has been the need of a permanent presence, with leadership and an ongoing commitment. Now that step is being taken and for that we thank God and offer it all to him.

Padre Misael and Claudia have been at Cristo Redentor for over ten years, to begin with as a lay minister, and the daughter church, San Pedro, which they began and built themselves, and he is also the Regional Vicar (Area Dean) of South Lima.

CHILDREN DYING OF COLD AND MALNUTRITION

2009-07-27T10:31:00.004-05:00

This short presentation of slides shows a little of the suffering of the children of Peru's Alteplano (High Plains). The cold this year has been intense. The children and elderly are particularly vulnerable because of malnutrition. Pneumonia has taken the lives of more children in the first half of this year than usually die in any one year.

The Anglican Church has a mission in Juliaca which is working with others to alleviate the suffering. Puno is one of the poorest areas of South America and the problem is vast. We are sending warm clothes from Lima and providing food for families, but our resources are few.

Thank you to "USPG-Anglicans in Mission" of London for their support.

NEW DEACON DENISE DODD

2009-07-21T17:10:00.003-05:00

Denise Dodd, from St Peter and St Paul's Church, Hucknall, was ordained deacon in Southwell Minister a few weeks ago. I was parish priest in Hucknall - we lived there from 1975-1986 - and knew all the Dodd family. It is such a great blessing to now see her committed to the Lord's work in ordained ministry in England.

When she first began her training at St John's College, Cranmer Hall, she wrote these words to me:

"I know within that each day God is blessing me. I so passionately want to do the ministry to which God has called me.... Everyday is a blessing and honour, knowing that God has really called "little shy Dee" to be a servant for his precious people! There is one thing that I must say to you, which I have wanted to do since I came back to faith in my late teens and that is, "Thank you for being an ambassador for God, so that I could receive from an early age the greatest gift of all, a loving relationship with God, not just for me but also for Mum, Suzanne & Colin".

Thank you Denise, and may God bless you in your new ministry.

BAPTISM OF TWO YOUNG CHRISTIANS

2009-07-20T11:45:00.004-05:00

Stefany and Steven Acosta were baptised in the Cathedral on Sunday (19th July). In the photo they are with their parents, Jerry and Edith, in the baptistry after the service.

Jerry is a former evangelical pastor and is in preparation to become a priest. Edith is a seminarian and hopes to become a deacon. They run the mission Jesus Source of Life in north Lima.

Edith is the sister of Padre Misael Varillas, the parish priest of Cristo Redentor and San Pedro in south Lima. Their father was a Pentecostal evangelist who rode on horse back evangelising the villages in the region of Huaraz in northern Peru. All of his family are involved in one way or another in the Lord's work. It was a joy to baptise Stefany and Steven, the next generation of the Varillas family.

CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM THE COLD

2009-07-17T18:45:00.006-05:00

There are some good photos of the immediate response to deliver clothing and blankets to children and elderly people suffering from cold and malnutrition in southern Peru. They were taken in Caracoto, one of the numerous small villages near Juliaca.

You will find them in the new Blog http://laluzanglicana.blogspot.com
of St Mary Magdalene's Church, Juliaca, published by Padre Ruben and Lay Minister Luis. Although the Blog is in Spanish it is well worth looking at.

One of the members of their congregation, Patty, is a social worker and has taken them out to the village. Padre Ruben asks us to pray for those who are especially vulnerable to the very cold weather, elderly people and children.

DONATION RECEIVED. We have received a donation in response to our appeal, from the mission society USPG in London, of £500. We are grateful to them for their immediate and generous support.

CHILDREN DYING OF COLD AND MALNUTRITION

2009-07-13T17:43:00.009-05:00

Help is urgently needed for children dying of hypothermia and malnutrition in Puno, one of Peru’s poorest regions.

We carried clothing and blankets to Juliaca, but MUCH MORE HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED (See below for DONATION DETAILS)

San Mateo School in Lima gathered the gifts especially for the suffering children. It has been handed over to Santa Maria Magdalena Anglican Church, Juliaca, to be distributed immediately to children in the area.

The BBC published an article on Sunday 12th July about children dying in Peru's very harsh winter. The article can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8146995.stm. It states that about 250 children under the age of five have already died in the harsh conditions, and the winter is not halfway through yet.

The region of Puno is one of the poorest in South America. Many children live in primitive conditions and often are malnourished, which makes them all the more vulnerable to hypothermia. Prolonged exposure to the cold causes respiratory infections like pneumonia. At the same time there is a lack of healthcare and basic services.

I can testify to the severe conditions and have rarely experienced such cold ever in my life. I was properly fed and dressed, but still have come back with my hands and legs red raw and chapped... and I saw children with sandals and T-shirts. At about 3.30pm each day the sun begins to lose its warmth and a terrible cold sets in. The freezing temperatures have been accompanied by torrential rain, snow, hail, and strong winds, and although the winter is only halfway through it has killed more children than usually die in any one year.

In our Juliaca church is a social worker who works in the outlying villages where the suffering is at its worst. She is taking our clergy there to see how most effectively to distribute the help to the most needy children.

The government has declared a state of emergency and clothing, blankets and food are being collected in tents specially set up in cities throughout the country.

SEND DONATIONS TO "PERU’S CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY"

In the USA to
Christ Church, Plano,
or
The Diocese of Florida

In the UK to
The Diocese of Worcester

INSTITUTION SERVICE IN JULIACA

2009-07-12T18:55:00.005-05:00

Six visiting clergy were present for the institution of the Rev Ruben Mancilla as parish priest of Juliaca, and of his assistant, Lay Minister Luis Vizcarra.

From left to right in the photo they are: Rev Juan Carlos Revilla (Arequipa, who planted the church), Rev Ruben Mancilla (Juliaca, newly instituted), Rev Deacon María Andía (Arequipa), the Bishop, Rev Deacon Pastor Zevallos (Lima - Director of NGO), Rev Anderson Sanchez (Lima - at back in photo), Rev Alejandro Mesco (Cabanaconde), Lay Minister Luis Vizcarra (Juliaca, who has faithfully cared for the church), Rev Ronald Robertson (Rector of Seminary in Arequipa).

The Institution Eucharist was attended by sixty people and during the service there were eight confirmations, a sign of things to come. The confirmations made a great impact on many people, some never having seen one before, and before people went home there was already a list of people to be prepared in time for the Bishop's next visit in October.

In his sermon the Bishop spoke of the ministries of evangelists, teachers and pastors, three of the ministries spoken of by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians (4.11): evangelists - proclaiming the Gospel and helping people to come to faith in Christ and give their lives to him; teachers - setting out the faith and its meaning; pastors - guiding and strengthening people in their walk with Christ. All three, he said, are needed in parish ministry.

Pray for Ruben and Luis.

MISSION IN COLCA CANYON

2009-07-11T17:44:00.007-05:00

The visit to Cabanconde in the Colca Canyon was marked by visits to homes, prayer, Bible Study (Lectio Divina), silence and the stunning beauty of God's creation. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful places I know and our mission centre, built of stone, is worthy of it.

The vision we began with had three aspects to it: a place of prayer, community life and mission springing from service, and all three are beginning to happen. Padre Alejandro and Deacon Justo, together with Alejandro's wife Doris, are known and loved in this small market town. Children rush up to hug Padre Alejandro and all of them know him because of his visits to the schools, and because of that the parents too. They also help in the fields during the time of sewing and reaping when there is so much to do, and people are amazed and grateful to see clergy hard at work alongside them.

Deacon Justo is very quiet and reserved, but he faithfully visits peoples' homes and they seek him out to have him visit and pray with them; and Doris joins him in this, especially among the womenfolk.

It is good to have a team of ministers; they can share the load and the dangerous journeys along mountain paths. It is our hope that every visit to the mountain villages will provide an opportunity for other clergy, seminarians and lay workers - from Lima and Arequipa - to go with them, and for others to stay behind and maintain the ministry in Cabanaconde while they're away.

Before October of this year we hope to have an "outdoor chapel" which will provide a bigger place for the growing congregation to meet. At present they meet in the central dining/living room of the house. But it's already full, and for the Eucharist last Thursday (9th June) during my visit, there were over fifty people. The "outdoor chapel" will have a sanctuary built of stone with a thatched roof, and the nave will be made of an open wooden frame with a thatched roof.

We have also made moves to acquire the next door plot of land, which we hope will enable us to expand our work and also bring in some income to maintain the mission, with stone bungalows that can be used for retreats and rest.

[The photo shows a young mother bringing her child to receive a blessing in the Eucharist. Her typical dress is still seem commonly in the streets and surrounding fields of Cabanaconde.]

VISIT TO SOUTHERN REGION OF PERU

2009-07-05T22:23:00.009-05:00

Five churches, two schools and two children's homes are being visited by the Bishop in a ten day tour of Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and Juliaca in the south of the Diocese.

The visits began on 3rd July and the Bishop is accompanied by Padre Ruben Mancilla, who will be instituted at parish priest of St Mary Magdalene Mission Church, Juliaca, on 12th July, and Deacon Pastor Zevallos, who is in charge of the Diocese's social outreach work.

The photograph shows the visit to the Santiago Apostol Mission (Mission of St James the Apostle) in the outskirts of Arequipa, where a new church is being built. Two members of the community are showing Padre Juan Carlos, Padre Ruben and the Bishop the plans. The next phase of the building will be to erect the walls, which will be built of the local white "sillar" stone. Arequipa is called "the white city" because so many of its buildings have been built of this stone.

At the Eucharist there this evening, the Bishop preached on the building up of the Church (the people), and asked the congregation what they thought should happen in the new church (building): "a medical centre!" came the reply from one lady. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I think it was a right answer and that Jesus would have approved!

On Monday 6th the team drives to the Colca Canyon to visit the Mission of San Felipe (St Philip) in Cabanaconde. Here they will spend three days with Padre Alejandro Mesco and his wife Doris, and Deacon Justo Maqque.

On Friday 10th they drive on to Juliaca, a city high on the Alteplano, for the celebration of Padre Ruben and Lay Minister Luis Vizcarra's institution. These two young ministers have the task of developing mission work in this new area for the Diocese. It is a great challenge for them both, but their willingness to take it up is a wonderful testimony of faithfulness to the Lord's call and their readiness to put their lives on the line for the Gospel.

The aim of the ten day trip is to visit and encourage the Church, to accompany and stand alongside the young churches, and to strengthen its mission workers, in the style of Paul and Barnabas in the early Church. Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." (Ac 15:36).

THE HOLY CROSS SISTERS

2009-07-04T22:40:00.005-05:00

The Diocese of Peru sends it’s loving greetings and congratulations to the Community of the Holy Cross at Rempstone, Nottingham, for the purchase of their new property, and for being bold and doing the best of things in the worst of times.

The Community at Rempstone prays for us regularly and we are delighted to receive the news of their new home-to-be in Costock. They bought the new property in April and it will take two years for work on it to be completed.

The Rev’d Mother Mary Luke writes about a religious community taking such an adventurous step at a time when numbers in traditional communities are dropping. She tells of an inscription in Staunton Harold Church, Leicestershire, which was built during Cromwell’s time in 1653, which reads: ‘Sir Robert Shirley, Baronet, founded this church, whose singular praise it is to have done the best things in ye worst of times.’

"Jeremiah" she says, "was told to buy a field... just before the people of Judah were taken into captivity, as a sign that the Lord would restore the fortunes of Israel and Judah. She continues, "So we are looking towards the future [and this church's inscription] reminds us that sometimes it is good to be bold. I hope it will be that we have done the best of things in the worst of times and it will be the presage of a new growth in the religious life for us and for the whole Church."

What a wonderful reflection! May God bless the Community.

Please support the Sisters’ building fund: Holy Cross Convent, Ashby Road, Rempstone, Loughborough LE12 6RG, UK

[The photo is of Sisters of the Community praying the Divine Office in one of the barns they have bought.]

ANGLICAN CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA - GREETINGS

2009-06-26T14:02:00.004-05:00

The Diocese of Peru, its Bishop, Clergy and People, joyfully greet the Anglican Church in North America, its Archbishop Robert Duncan, its Dioceses, Bishops, Clergy and People, and our many friends who are a part of it. We wish you God’s blessing in the communion we share as members of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and in our common mission of proclaiming the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This has been a very happy week for you with the inauguration of the new Province and we are delighted that you were able to celebrate the central Eucharist in Christ Church Plano as the guests of Fr David Roseberry and his people, with whom we have a long and close relationship in Christ.

As a Diocese, we are committed, like you, to the Gospel principles on which the one Church of Christ, which includes our beloved Anglican Communion, has stood from the beginning.

At this important time for Anglicans in North America, we are conscious also of faithful dioceses, bishops, clergy and people, among them many of our close friends, who remain part of the Provinces of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America and the Anglican Church of Canada. With them too we rejoice to share communion, and as a Diocese we are committed, as our Constitution states, to do everything possible in brotherly love and repentance to heal our divisions.

Heroes of the Faith - Juan Carlos

2009-06-23T20:18:00.006-05:00

The Diocese is blessed to have some modern day "heroes of the faith". Juan Carlos, one of them, working in one of the poorest areas of Lima north, in St Patrick's Mission, Cerro Cachito. He leaves his work at 2.30pm and travels by public transport to be with his people - on one of those "combis" packed with people - a two or three hour journey. Then his real work begins, sharing the love and compassion of Christ in any way he can, visiting homes and running Bible study groups for the families and activities for the children.
It's a mission which lacks funds. They used to run a soup kitchen, but the support came to an end. He told me that he could feed about 70 children every day for less than US$300 per month, and asked if I could help.
Sarah Tester, a SAMS GB missionary, runs a play scheme for the children on Saturdays. There's a photo of her with some of the children on the Outreach page of the new web site. David Gonzales, one of our deacons, works there as well.
There are about 80 people in his congregation, not counting the children, all of whom live in wooden shacks and most of whom don't have enough to eat. It is an area designated by the Government for physically handicapped people, and there are a number who need wheel chairs, almost impossible to push in the sand on which the houses are built.
Besides his work in the mission, Juan Carlos is a seminarian and will finish his studies at the end of this year. He says, "I want to be a priest, but whatever happens, I will go on working with my people."
Pray for him and his future. Pray for the people of the Mission. Pray for Sarah and Deacon David. Pray for the land, that the Council will allow us to stay. And pray that the funds will come in, not only to allow us to start feeding the children again, but also to build the facilities needed to develop the mission.

"RECEIVE THIS BIBLE" - ORDINATIONS

2009-06-22T12:58:00.006-05:00

Anderson Sanchez, Ruben Mancilla and Pastor Zevallos were recently ordained to Holy Orders in the Cathedral. In a joyful ceremony the new ministers - two priests and one deacon - were greeted with applause following the ordination prayer.
For the consecration of the priests, the Bishop was joined by his clergy for the laying on of hands. He also anointed their hands and forehead with the Holy Oil of Chrism, a sign of their being consecrated - set apart - for God's work.

All three were given Bibles, as a sign of their authority to preach the Word of God. (In the photo the newly ordained ministers are kneeling: Padre Anderson is at the far end, Deacon Pastor in the centre receiving his Bible, and Padre Ruben nearest the camera.)

All the ordinands were accompanied by family and friends and the Diocese gave thanks and praise to God for the gift of more workers for His mission field. At the end of the liturgy the new priests gave the blessing, and the new deacon dismissed the people, telling them to go in peace and joy to serve the Lord.

Both new priests presided at the Holy Eucharist for the first time in the days following their ordination.

PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Padre Anderson will continue to minister in the Cathedral as an assistant priest; Padre Ruben has been posted to Juliaca on the Alteplano (Peru's highland region), near lake Titicaca, as priest in charge of the Mission of St Mary Magdalene; and Deacon Pastor continues as the Deacon of the NGO "Comunion-Peru", responsible for the encouragement and development of social action in the Diocese.

GOD'S AMAZING GROWTH

2009-06-19T15:55:00.007-05:00

When I arrived in Peru in April 1998, there were 4 Peruvian priests and 1 deacon, looking after 9 congregations . They were helped by two ordained missionaries from overseas, a Canadian and a Cuban-American.
Now there is Anglican worship in 41 congregations, led by 24 priests, 8 deacons and 23 lay ministers; and in our two seminaries there are around 60 seminarians, preparing for the work to which God is calling them.

This amazing growth has come about by an outpouring of God’s grace, for which we praise and thank Him.

Numerical growth must, of course, be matched by growth in faithfulness to Jesus, obedience to the Father's will, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As we prepare to push out in new mission, in Ica and Trujillo, it is so very encouraging for us to see that God is preparing His mission team ready for His new work.

If you think God may be calling you to join us and work in Peru, please write or call us, so that we may initiate a discernment process.

If you would like to give financially to support our mission work, please contact Patrick Mackie (UK) or Susan Kerr (USA). Their details are on our NEW web site, www.anglicanchurchperu.serifweb.com, on the SUPPORT page.

MARCH FOR RELIGIOUS EQUALITY

2009-06-13T11:35:00.007-05:00

More than 15,000 Christians marched to the Congress Building in Lima on June 11th to ask for Religious Equality. Although granted religious freedom by the Constitution, Peru's none Roman Catholics suffer in many ways on a daily basis, and there are no laws to back up their cause. While the Roman Catholic Church receives financial support from the government, other confessions are penalized.

Since the creation of a Register of Non-Catholic Confessions in 2004, things have been changing. A paper is now before Congress' Constitution Committee and following the March on Thursday it has been put in first place for consideration.

It is hoped that it will give other confessions the right to have chaplains in hospitals, schools, prisons and the armed forces; to enable non Roman Catholics to have a religious education other than Catholic; to liberation from taxes; and the right to enter into agreements with the State, for example on issues of education, relief and development. Attitudes will have to change in the country, but there has been a huge step forward.

For example, for us the possibility of the State paying for our school teachers, as happens with the RC Church, would be an enormous benefit.

I have been involved as one of the assessors to the Ministry of Justice on religious matters, specifically the registration of confessions and on the working group which produced the first draft of the proposed legislation.

We are also in the final stages of a new constitution for the Interreligious Committee of Peru, which will provide a forum for all confessions and their NGOs to meet and talk together. Much is already happening, in areas such as the Bible, justice and peace, relief and development, HIV/AIDS, micro-finance, religious dialogue - but this will bring it all together at national level. There are to be three co-presidents of the new body, the Archbishop of Huancayo, the President of the National Evangelical Council of Peru, and me. Let us pray for God's blessing as the new body begins its work.

VIOLENT CONFLICTS IN PERU

2009-06-12T16:09:00.007-05:00

Amazonas, Peru
The deadly conflict between the Indigenous Peoples of Amazonas and the Peruvian Government has been coming to a head since 2008. President Alan Garcia issued several decrees allowing foreign companies to look for gas and oil on lands specially reserved for Indigenous Peoples. Although 70% of Peru’s rain forests are already designated for exploration, the President's decrees opened up even the lands reserved for the native peoples.

The Indigenous Peoples considered this as an assault on their rights and a betrayal by the Government of its formal commitment before the United Nations. The Government responded with a law which criminalized protests. Many people have been imprisoned and forcibly removed from their lands, and there have been accusations of torture and the ‘disappearance’ of people (killing people and hiding their bodies).

The government defends its decrees, saying that the lands must be opened to attract investment and stimulate the economy. They accuse those working with the Indigenous Peoples of manipulating them on behalf of external powers, like Venezuela and Bolivia.

Talks with the Government have been requested since August 2008, but the situation finally exploded at the beginning of June 2009. For some time the indigenous peoples had blocked rivers and roads used for transporting heavy machinery, and when finally the police tried to disperse the protesters, 22 are said to have died, and 23 police and 9 civilians, and over 100 people have been injured in a fierce and bloody confrontation.... of spears versus rifles.

As news has leaked out it has rocked the country. Local people were called "savages" by Ministers, but finally the Government has had to take a step back and has temporarily suspended the legislation giving rights to the oil and gas companies, to allow talks with the indigenous peoples to take place.

It is very difficult to get a clear picture of what is happening and the Government has denied access to outside observers to see what is really happening. What the crisis clearly shows is the deep divisions in society and the need of a system which offers to its most vulnerable peoples respect for their basic human rights, and their fair and equal treatment as citizens.

In my opinion government centralised in Lima very often fails to value Peru’s unique ethnic and cultural diversity, to neglect the needs and rights of those who have lived here from time immemorial, and to overlook the decimation of its rain forests, which are central to the survival of the planet. There will be progress and change, but a way has to found for it to go forward, with respect and values, and without trampling down the little ones, the vulnerable, and the beauty of God's creation. There must be new vision and a radical change of heart..... Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.

[Several people asked me for something on this situation in northern Peru.]

NEW LOOK DIOCESAN WEB SITE!

2009-06-10T15:34:00.008-05:00

The Diocesan Web Site has a new look!

After several years with the yellow background we are moving to a cleaner, simpler look. Not all the pages are ready yet and to begin with some of the content will be the same as before, but now we shall be able to manage it ourselves and have much greater accessibility.

The key to news will be the blogspots and we hope our readers will find them useful to keep up with what's happening.

Some of the photos on the new site are stunning and we are grateful to those who make them available to us. I love the one we have on our home page, which is taken of the church notice board outside St Andrew's Mission in north Lima.

At the same time we are working on a parallel site in Spanish, which will have some things in common, but others which are more suited to the Spanish-speaking world. For example, where many of our English-speaking readers already know what the Anglican Church is, many of our Spanish-speaking readers are looking for more basic information about us, who we are and what we believe, and how we compare with churches they know.

As the old site is still up, the address of the new one has changed and is: www.AnglicanChurchPeru.serifweb.com

With God's blessing for all our readers, Bishop William Godfrey

ANGLICAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL, JAMAICA

2009-05-16T14:50:00.007-05:00

It was a very great privilege to take part in the recent meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Kingston, Jamaica, 2nd - 12th May, 2009, and to share with delegates from Provinces around the world.
Not every thing went the way I had hoped, especially the delay in sending the proposed Anglican Covenant to the Provinces for their decision. But there are very many good things happening in the Communion, and many good men and women working on them, for which I rejoice, and I have come back even more enthused about our Anglican Church and wanting more than ever to serve faithfully our Lord and Saviour.
About the vote on the proposed Covenant, in which I played a part and did my best to find a way through, if all the conservative provinces and bishops who could have attended had been there and cast their votes, the matter would have been decided in favour - the decision was lost by only two votes. When there is a battle to be fought, all must take their part. Despite the decision to delay, I have come away from the meeting believing firmly that the Gospel will prevail and the Covenant will go through, with its important Section 4. The Church is the Bride of Christ and we need have no fear for our future.
[Photo: I presided on Sunday 10th May at the Eucharist in the Cathedral of St Yago (James), Spanish Town, and am in the photo with the Bishop of Kingston, the Priest in charge of the Cathedral, who was chaplain to the meeting of the ACC, and the Bishop of Spain. The Cathedral is the oldest in the Anglican Communion outside England, the building dating back to 1611.]

Juliaca's Mission at the Diocesan Synod

2009-04-20T15:47:00.005-05:00

Representatives of the Mission in Juliaca came to Diocesan Synod on the weekend of 18th April. The lay people were proud to bring their new full time minister, Deacon Ruben Mancilla, and he was proud to bring them..... members of his first parish! At the same time they gathered with Luis Vizcarra, the lay minister who will work with Ruben. He is in the final weeks of his seminary training and will have to travel to Arequipa on a weekly basis for his classes. It's a short five hour journey on the bus and he's full of enthusiam to be working there.
One of the first priorities for the team in Juliaca is to put a water tank on the roof, so that they have a supply of drinking water. A second will be to build a bathroom!
Juliaca is a city of commerce and there are markets everywhere. As soon as the two lay reps. arrived at the synod, they got to work selling chocolate to the other participants and raisning funds to cover their bus fares! They'd travelled over 20 hours to get there and had their first experience of Peru's capital city. Both of them are called Celestina - Heavenly.
It was announced at the synod that Ruben will be ordained priest on 23rd May, so we ask your special prayers for him.

Palm Sunday in the north of Lima

2009-04-20T15:34:00.006-05:00

Missions in the north of Lima celebrated Palm Sunday in different ways. None of them have churches, yet, but were able to conmemorate Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a freshness and vigour which is contagious. Children of the Holy Spirit Mission gathered under a tree for a photo. Padre Stephen and Pastor Zevallos are standing behind them. The children of St Andrew's Mission carried their palms, and Padres Jorge and Jesus, led the celebration of St Matthew's Mission and School.

Suffragan Bishop for Uruguay

2009-04-10T21:16:00.003-05:00

It is with great joy that we share the news that our dear friend and co-worker in Christ, the Rev Gilberto Porcal, has been elected Suffragan Bishop of Uruguay. Although the election took place on December 12th, the ratification by the Provincial Executive and House of Bishops had to wait until the Provincial meetings in Paraguay in March.
Gilberto came into the Anglican Church a few weeks after our arrival in South America in February 1986. He worked as my assistant in our ministry among street people in Montevideo's Old City and was eventually ordained in 1990, during the visit of the Most Reverend Robert Runcie, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. Several months later Padre Gilberto was sent to work in Salto, where by God's grace he brought to life St Luke's Church, one of the oldest Anglican churches in Latin America. He also founded the mission church of the Holy Spirit, now a parish.
He will make a worthy bishop and his deep faith and spirituality will be a great blessing to the Diocese of Uruguay and the Province. We look forward with great anticipation to his ordination on May 26th, the Feast Day of St Augustine of Canterbury, who was himself a bishop and missionary.

Deacon Ruben to Juliaca

2009-04-10T15:59:00.002-05:00

Deacon Ruben Mancilla has moved this week to Juliaca to take up pastoral responsibility in the St Mary Magdalene's Mission. At over 13,000 feet, Juliaca is a thriving market town high on the Alteplano near Puno and Lake Titicaca. It is a far cry from Villa El Salvador in the South of Lima, one of the capital's largest municipal areas in the desert sands of Peru's coast, where Ruben comes from.
He's excited by the challenge and looking forward to being the resident minister the congregation of St Mary Magdalene has been waiting for several years.
He will be joined in July by Luis Vizcarra, one of the seminarians from Arequipa who has travelled the four or five hours to Juliaca most weekends to care for the congregation. He is due to finish his theological studies and ministerial training in July and will go straight to Juliaca to work alongside Deacon Ruben.
Let us pray for these two young men as they give their lives in the service of the Gospel and of our Lord Jesus Christ and his people.

Doctorate from Nashotah House

2009-04-10T15:40:00.004-05:00

I was greatly honoured to be made a Doctor of Divinty, honoris causa, by Nashotah House Seminary last October, and deeply moved. It was a wonderful occasion at which I was accompanied by my wife Judith and son Matthew, and surrounded by many Nashotah House friends.
The citation at the ceremony finished by saying, "For his dedicated service and leadership, exemplifying the meaning of a "missionary bishop" and his inspiration to generations of priests..." Thank you to you all at Nashotah House, very, very much.
My relationship with Nashotah House has grown over the past few years, with staff and seminarians, and I cannot imagine an award I would rather have. Bishop Jackson Kemper, the first missionary bishop in North America, was the founder of Nashotah House; and Archbishop Michael Ramsey spent some of the happiest moments of his retirement there - both being heroes of the faith for me.
We now look forward to a mission team of students coming to visit us in the Diocese after Easter.

Missionaries - Benjamin and Livia

2009-04-10T15:24:00.005-05:00

Two of our most devoted missionaries are Father Benjamin and Livia. They began St Andrew's Mission almost two years ago in one of the poorest shanty areas in the north of Lima, and they faithfully visit and care for the people there every day. It takes them two hours by bus from their home in Lima south to get to the mission, and of course two hours back in the evening. Of course the people know they are loved, and the congregation is growing.
They are an example to us all and the smile in the photo is a real image of the love and kindness they bring to their people.
Fr Benjamin was a deacon of the RC Church for many years, but he never lost his sense of calling to the priesthood and was deeply moved when the time came for him to be ordained as an Anglican priest. Livia is working with the women of several areas near St Andrew's, teaching them skills which will enable them to earn their own living. A project has recently been presented to the Mothers' Union in London, which would enable this work to grow, and we all pray for support for the project.

Priests received into Anglican Communion

2009-04-10T14:54:00.003-05:00

Three priests were received into the Diocese in Holy Week. All have been part of the Anglican Church for some time, but on this special occasions they were formally licensed as clergy of the Diocese.
Fr Daniel Rodriguez, originally from Argentina, is to be married to Vicki on April 19th and will be based at the Cathedral. Fr Jorge Zamudio is married to Claudia and they have two sons. He is a Biblical scholar and has already taught in the Diocesan Seminary. Fr Esteban Zapata is married to Jessica. They have a fifteen year old son and are expecting their second child in July. He is a missionary priest working in the Holy Spirit mission in Lima north.
It was a very special and happy occasion at which the clergy of Lima renewed their ordination vows, and the holy oils were blessed by the Bishop.
There are now 18 priests in the Diocese, 9 deacons and 22 lay ministers, and we praise God for them all.
[The photo shows the clergy standing outside the Cathedral following the Eucharist. To the the bishop's right are Jorge and Daniel, and to his left Esteban.]

Young girl murdered

2008-06-05T15:08:00.002-05:00

Alenda, an eight year old member of the Cathedral English congregation, was murdered in her home last week. With her mother Mary Ann, both from South Africa, the congregation has seen her grow since she was a toddler. The Cathedral was packed for the Funeral Eucharist and many, many tears shed for this beautiful young girl and her senseless and brutal death. Alenda had also been raped.
In his address the Bishop said that Jesus had been with her when she died, and that he, too, knew what a brutal and terrible death was, as he had died in such a way.
He also took words from Paul's letter to the Romans, "Who then can separate us from the love of Christ..... I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38f)
The photograph was taken in March 2003, when Alenda was baptised into Christ and became a member of his Body.

Dancing to Andean Music

2008-06-05T14:37:00.007-05:00

Teachers, clergy and administration staff gathered to make a human map of Peru for a new video about the Diocese. But the event turned into a spontaneous dance as a group played Andean music.
The group, from the Jesus El Nazareno mission, played Christian songs set to the beat of traditional Andean music. The infectious sound of this music always has a marvellous effect.... and the half hour session in the end lasted two hours!

St Philip's Mission, Cabanaconde

2008-05-10T18:37:00.002-05:00

This is the first stage of the mission building in Cabanaconde, on the edge of the Colca Canyon. Diocesan mission teams have been visiting the villages on the far side of the canyon since 1998 when they responded to a tragedy which destroyed a large part of Choco, one of the villages.
Other mission teams have visited the villages over the past ten years, among them groups from St Philip's Church, Frisco (USA) which has taken a lead in constructing the building and providing funding. Teams of medics have also visited the area from the MMI medical mission.
Now we have a base to work from and all being well the second phase of the building, which will include a chapel, will begin soon.
Padre Alejandro is the priest responsible for the development of the mission and he is already a well known person in the town of Cabanaconde and on the mountain tracks. Fluent in Quechua, he is able to communicate naturally with the people of the Canyon and speak with them about the Gospel of Christ.
The canyon drops down three quarters of a mile, and can be seen across the fields beyond the building in the photo.

Soup Kitchens - Help Still Vitally Needed

2007-09-05T11:44:00.000-05:00

Please forgive the absence of news about our efforts to help the earthquake victims. As many of you know I have been and am still I hospital following an operation and have been out of touch for the past week.

However, I am receiving reports from our Diocesan workers in the Ica region and can pass on the following information from Pastor Zevallos, who is coordinating our work. His update was written on August 29:

"Today we have opened a fifth feeding point in Villa San Pedro, the Camen area of Ica. So far we have feeding points in San Juan Bautista, El Olivo, El Carmen, San Martín and now Villa San Pedro.... For the opening of the soup kitchen in San Martin the Mayor, Licenciado Jorge Quispe, was present and he gave us an industrial gas cooker, a full canister of gas, two large cooking pots together with a sack of rice, sugar, pasta, oats and beans, two boxes of milk, and various other foodstuffs."

"To begin the soup kitchens in the Chincha and Pisco areas we shall need six cookers and gas canisters, twelve cooking pots and utensils."

Seminarian Pastor Zevallos

Finally, I am proud to say that our seminarians, who have a break from classes this week, are almost all currently down in Ica working in the soup kitchens.... by their own decision.

Pictures show (from top, left to right):

People gathered at one of the soup kitchens
Organising the relief effort
Padre Jesus helping organise the soup kitchens
Homes destroyed by the earthquake
More damaged houses and emergency water butts
The banner of the Anglican 'Emergency Mission'
The seminarians camped out in Ica
The Mayor presenting cooking equipment to the team
Loading the lorry in Lima
Getting ready to leave
Piles of foodstuffs prior to departure
The journey south in the back of the lorry!

Volunteers Minister to Victims of the Earthquake

2007-09-05T11:12:00.000-05:00

The medical team of 25 volunteers led by Erica Montoya continues to visit the injured in the hospitals of Lima and to give support to their families. Many, many people face the prospect of returning to derelict homes in which they have lost everything.

Treating people with broken hearts and the fear of not knowing what the future holds is as much part of this ministry as tending to their physical needs. The Diocese has responded generously in providing clothing and food for family members. The photos show the distribution of clothing and relatives being fed as well as people in their hospital beds.

The medical team has been praised by hospital authorities for the conscientious loving care and practical help it is offering. Please continue to pray for this important ministry and, above all, for the people who now have to return to ruined, derelict homes (some of which sadly have been looted) and who have nothing left to start rebuilding their lives with.

Feeding the Five Thousand

2007-08-21T18:38:00.001-05:00

The pictures tell their own story. Every day since they began last week, the Diocesan earthquake response team has been feeding an average of almost 5,000 people a day.
In every place the team has worked, it's been the first help to arrive.

The Diocese has been joined by volunteers from ASIPO, a service organisation which helps people suffering from AIDS.... social workers, nurses, psychologists.
Together with our Padre Jesus Mejia, the Bishop's chaplain , and Pastor Zevallos, they have been serving hungry people.
The aim is to start up soup kitchens and community help centres which the local people will then run themselves.
These centres are registered with PRONAC and Civil Defence so that they qualify for food distribution.
We are buying and sending kerosene cookers, large pans and cooking utensils for the work.
Transport is expensive and we are hoping to receive food from the organisations that are taking it down in bulk: Caritas, the Salvation Army, PRONAC the government food agency. But as yet these food stores are not available.
Transport without the police or army is dangerous and desperate people are stopping vehicles to take what they are carrying to their families. Inevitably there is racketeering too.

Such has been the response from our friends that we shall be sending a second team to the stricken towns and villages.
All being well this new team will be in operation before the end of the week.
It is our hope to send it up into the mountainous areas of Huacavelica, in land from the epicentre. This is the poorest area of Peru and because of its isolation it is likely that no help has yet reached there.

It has been amazing how many other churches and organisations have been in contact with us and asked to work with us.
I feel humbled by the offers we have received and pray that by God's grace we may be worthy of it.

In Lima we have volunteers working in the hospitals, visiting and caring for those who have been injured and are far from home.
We are caring for their families too with food, clothing, medicines, friendship and lodging.
Ericka Montoya, our social worker who received a grant from USPG for her training, is leading this ministry.

The parable of the sheep and goats is near the top of our minds as we have the privilege of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick...

Once again thank you so much to all our friends who have been so faithful in their prayers and generous in their giving. May God bless you for your kindness. We are only too aware of the privilege we have of being released to serve in this way and conscious that it is by your giving that this is possible. May God's love be multiplied among us.

Earthquake: Initial Response Widens

2007-08-20T11:20:00.000-05:00

Emergency relief work continues to be our priority in areas close to the epicentre of the earthquake. Our objective is to identify and reach areas where help has not yet come. Time is of the essence for people who have no water and food.

FOOD AND WATER
Yesterday the Diocesan team opened a new base in Guadalupe to the north of Ica and over 5,000 people received their first full meal in several days. Food, water and medicine continue to be the priority as well as tending to the injured.
Today the team will open another soup kitchen in San Juan Bautista, a district of 15,000 people again near Ica. Only established and registered soup kitchens can receive food from the national food agency PRONAC, so our strategy is to enable and equip such kitchens, register them with the food agency, and organise them so as to continue under the direction of local people.
The Diocesan aid work is being directed by the Rev Jaime Siancas, the Deacon of our NGO "Communion-Peru".

INJURED IN LIMA HOSPITALS
Another ministry opportunity we are responding to is to support the injured who have been brought from the south to Lima’s hospitals. Many of them were brought in on stretchers with no personal belongings. We are providing food, clothing, medicines, prayer and counsel, and when the time comes transport back to their families. This is being led by Ericka Montoya, our Social Worker, and women of AMA (MU) from our parishes, with the support of the clergy.

COLLECTIONS FROM OUR CHURCHES
Yesterday there were collections of food, water, clothing, blankets in our parishes and missions. Anything that can be of use to the victims was gathered and will be sent down in the coming days.

CO-WORKERS
We had an excellent meeting yesterday morning with sister organisations ECLOF, the Presbyterian Church (PECUSA) and ASIPO to coordinate our work and resources.
We are working with ASIPO in the field and they are strengthening the team with professional workers such as nurses, social workers and community workers. They have excellent contacts with the government and helped us with the transport of food and other supplies.
Tomorrow I have a meeting with the relief agency Caritas with the hope of accessing large quantities of food in the affected areas. These supplies will not be available for several days more, and in the meantime we are using our own transport, which is costly and limited.
We are greatly impressed by Peru’s Civil Defence force. Its professionalism and organisation has been remarkable. The Diocese and our NGO “Communion-Peru” have registered with them as agencies involved in the overall aid effort. They have a record of all that is being done and will direct registered organisations to areas where help has not yet arrived.

DISORDER
The whole relief operation is being complicated by disorder, robbery and looting. There is great nervousness about the presence of unidentified strangers and the transportation of goods is almost impossible without army escort. Darkness is giving cover to gangs who loot houses and rob families of the little they still have.

GRATEFUL THANKS FOR YOUR GIFTS
Our grateful thanks goes to our friends and sister churches from many parts of the world for your spontaneous and generous gifts. Thank you for all you are doing and for your prayers and giving. Without them our part in this response would be greatly reduced. You are enabling us to go into areas where help has so far not arrived with a minimum of fuss and red tape. As funds come in we shall be able to increase our efforts.

DIOCESE INVOLVED IN EARTHQUAKE RESCUE AND RELIEF

2007-08-19T08:12:00.000-05:00

The Diocese is deeply involved in earthquake relief and rescue work.
At present we have a small team of people in the area of the epicentre. They are primarily involved in feeding people and providing water and medicine. Yesterday they fed over 6,000 people in an area just outside Pisco - a two hour walk. They were the first help to arrive.
Today they are setting up a more permanent soup kitchen outside Nazca called Guadalupe. Spiritual help and comfort is also important and I have two more priests going down tomorrow.
It has been very difficut to get to the area because of poor roads and civil disorder, but so far they have had the help of army convoys to reach the stricken areas.

We are organising our efforts in three ways:
1. a team of workers in the worst hit areas is responding to immediate need - food, water, medicine, blankets. We are trying to reach areas where so far other help has not yet arrived, always woking in conjunction with the local authority.
2. help for the injured and their families who have been brought to Lima - we have a team of people on this and the Ministry of Health has given us the names of over 450 injured, including 25 children;
3. collections of essential things from our parishes and mission, nearly all of which are in poor areas, and some of which have been affected themselves.

We are working in conjunction with other churches and aid agencies, adding whatever we can to what God gives us.

COSTS: I shall be publishing details of costs probably later today, but to give you an idea: a meal costs about 60 US cents (30p UK)
a blanket about $5 (£2.50)
a 20 litre (4 gallons) container of water is $4 (£2).
To feed 6,000 people yesterday cost us $3,600 (£1,800)

EARTH QUAKE - REPORT FROM CHINCHA

2007-08-17T06:47:00.000-05:00

I received this report from a member of the Cathedral congregation who was in touch by radio with a friend in Chincha, one of the worst affected areas....

"Just to give you an idea .... almost all the buildings have fallen down. There's no food or water. Medicines are scarce and there's no electricity nor telephones. They are selling candles at S/.10 each, that's US$3 each!

There are (dead) bodies all around and they can't be got out and there isn't any medical help. There is nobody to remove the corpses and the sense of grief and mourning invades the whole scene in such a way that we can't begin to take it in.

Not much is known about Pisco. I have a great friend there who works in the fishing port and we haven't heard anything from him. I know you'll understand the state of families in this sort of situation.

My suggestion at this time of such anguish is to begin a campaign, to gather candles, bottles of water, chlorine tablets (for water), batteries for flash lights and flash lights (torches), tinned food, blankets, large plastic bags for the dead - they don't have coffins and it would be almost impossible to get them there with the roads being in the state they are....."

If you live outside Peru, please send donations. The details are set out in the news report below.

EARTHQUAKE APPEAL - PLEASE PUBLICISE WIDELY

2007-08-16T21:40:00.000-05:00

Like many others in Peru today we are still taking in the scale of the tragedy and gathering information. Our intention is to join forces with other agencies and gather resources to be able to respond to the victims of the earthquake. Emergency help is still needed from both inside and outside the country.
Our Diocesan NGO "Comunion-Peru" will be working in conjunction with the Catholic agency "Caritas" and the Lutheran agency "Lutheran World Relief". Both have wide experience of response to natural disasters.

FROM INSIDE PERU - WE NEED FOOD, CLOTHING, BLANKETS
Donations of clothing, blankets, food and medicine are being received in the National Football Stadium in Lima and a Hercules plane of the Peruvian Airforce will be flying to Pisco, the area worst affected tomorrow.

FROM OUTSIDE PERU - WE NEED DONATIONS OF MONEY
Donations of money can be sent to either of the Diocesan bank accounts in Texas, USA and Nottingham, UK.
We shall be in touch with those who look after our accounts to bring down the money immediately.

USA: Call the office of Susan Kerr and/or make checks payable to "Christ Church - Peru Earthquake Appeal"
Mrs Susan Kerr
4550 Legacy Drive
Plano, TX 75024
Tel 972 618 0222

UK: Call Patrick Mackie and/or make checks payable to "Anglican Diocese of Peru - Earthquake Appeal"
Mr Patrick Mackie
4, Croft Rise, East Bridgford
Nottingham NG13 8PS
Tel/Fax 01949 20519

Earthquake Devastation - A Letter from Lima

2007-08-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

I was in Florida when the earthquake struck and have spent much of the day trying to reach people on the phone and coordinate help from afar. Telephones were down to begin with, but I've just received this prayer letter from Deacon Rachel Hill...

Dear friends,

Thank you for your prayers for protection! We are all well if a little shaken up by last night's earthquake. I was at the cathedral about to teach class, Allen was home with the boys. We cancelled class and everyone left to go home. My usual 7-10 minutes drive took over half an hour as the streets were flooded with people trying to get home. For many of our seminarians it was hours before they could squeeze onto a bus and then make it through the hectic traffic to their families. Thankfully all were well.

Today we have been in touch with all the missions and projects of the diocese and there has been no serious damage or injury that we know of. Tomorrow all our building will be checked by an architect. We are planning to provide emergency relief to meet the needs of those in our communities who did suffer. Miraculously little damage was sustained in the shanty towns, by the grace of God. Sadly, there has been tremendous loss of life and homes further south and we will also be seeking to respond there in collaboration with some major relief agencies which are already in action.

Today I was out all morning and there was a very somber and quiet atmosphere everywhere. By mid-morning I realised that I too felt very shaken emotionally. As the news stations share more of the details we are all praying and waiting to see how we might help. In the San Patricio mission, few of the homes around our mission fell, but all the neighbours went down to the lower ground nearer the sea to help the families there transfer their flooded shacks to higher ground.

Please pray for all those who have lost family members, homes and livelihoods; for those who are injured and suffering; for those who will be spending their second night out of doors in this cold weather. Pray for the government and those responsible for relief and medical work, that their tasks would be done quickly and effectively. Pray also for the ground to settle and for any aftershock to be minimal in effect. Pray for safety for all of us here and for God's peace to flow like a river washing away the residue of fear. That in all of this people would seek God and find him.....

Teachers' Dancing Display

2007-08-11T16:19:00.001-05:00

Peruvian dancing is a vital part of school life as pupils are taught to value traditional customs, and the teachers of St Matthew's School (Lima) are becoming an accomplished dancing troupe.
On August 8 they gave a presentation to the pupils of the school and distinguished visitors from Florida (USA). Their dance on this occasion was from the Colca Canyon area of Arequipa and they were dressed in beautifully embroidered dresses from the area.
Women in the remote villages of the Canyon still wear traditional costumes like these to work in the fields. Many of the younger women now wear slacks for work but still retain the embroidered hat. Nevertheless at feasts and celebrations almost all the women are dressed in this way.
In times past the number of skirts a woman wore was a sign of her status and wealth.
The Diocese is looking at the possibility of beginning a project to help local workers to sell handbags (purses) and other articles decorated with this beautiful work in the USA and UK.

Sponsor a child for US$25 per month (UK £13)

2007-08-08T21:08:00.001-05:00

APPEAL TO SPONSOR A CHILD'S EDUCATION
We are committed to offering schooling to children from areas of great poverty.... to enable every child to reach his or her full potential. This involves a child’s intellectual, physical (including nutrition and medical care), social and artistic well being, all based in the Christian faith and values.
Parents make a regular contribution towards the cost of their child’s education, but that covers less than half the real cost, which is US$50 per month. (UK £26)
We are grateful for the support that individuals and churches have given so generously to enable our schools to be developed so far.

SPONSORS
As this ministry grows, we need to expand our support base and are looking for donors who will sponsor the education of one or more children and commit to praying regularly for them.

USA: From $25 per month or $300 per year you can help a Peruvian child.
UK: From £13 per month or £156 per year you can help a Peruvian child.

As part of your support you will receive:
- the name of the child (or children) you are sponsoring with a brief introduction
- a report on their progress twice a year
- a letter from your child three times a year
Sponsorship could be offered by individuals, families, groups, schools or parishes.

For information on how to donate by cheque or bank transfer contact
In the USA
Mrs Susan Kerr
4550 Legacy Drive
Plano, TX 75024
Tel 972 618 0222

In the UK
Mr Patrick Mackie
4, Croft Rise, East Bridgford
Nottingham NG13 8PS
Tel/Fax 01949 20519

THIS IS A PRIORITY EDUCATION NEED IN THE DIOCESE.

The Duck Project is 10 Years Old

2007-07-31T20:01:00.001-05:00

The Duck Project is 10 years old.
Almost 100 people gathered today (July 31st) for the closing event of the latest course, a marvellous celebration with thanks, speeches, prayers, and of course the specially prepared duck dishes.
The course lasts three months and covers feeding, reproduction, health and the care of ducks.
The Diocese lends ducks and a drake to each group of women, and during the incubation period of the eggs the participants learn how to rear and care for the ducks.
At the end of the course each woman receives a share of the ducklings - usually between 5 to 10 - in order to begin their own farm, and then the adult ducks are given back ready for the next course.
The last lesson is on cooking duck, and today the plates were really delicious, "among the very best I've tasted".... ceviche de pato (duck), duck in wine, escabeche de pato, duck a la pimienta, jonjoli de pato!
Points are awarded throughout the course and at the end the leading group receives a special prize. In fact everyone receives a prize, which this time was a pair of shoes, and there are no losers.
Before the event began the Bishop and the guests of honour were taken to see one of the duck farms and the ducklings. (See top photo) They also saw rabbits and guinea pigs being raised as the project expands.
In the second photo members of another farm look on as speeches are made. Their dish was "vegetarian".... although there was some duck in it!
In the ten years of the projects existence it has given away over 40,000 ducklings. Its aims are to increase nutrition in families living in poverty; to teach women a skill; to increase the family income by selling ducks and eggs; to raise self-esteem; and to teach women to work in groups.
The project is part of the Church's holistic mission and the Gospel is an integral part of the course and many of the women finding a deepening of their faith as they take part in the classes.

Holy Family Prepares for Mission Team

2007-07-26T15:43:00.000-05:00

Preparations are advancing for the arrival of the Christ Church, Richmond mission team which comes into Lima in mid-August. They will be laying the foundations of a new church and mission center - Holy Family - which is being built on the side of a rocky hillside.
A ledge is literally being carved out of the rock by local workmen and women by hand in readiness for the team.
In the first photo Padre Aurelio is seen standing on the site of the new church with the women's workshop in the background on a temporary site.
In the second photo Padre Misael, who is in charge building works in the Diocese, talks to the workers as the rock is carved away.
Two sites have been made available to the Church in this area of 15,000 people. The lower is Holy Family and the upper one Good Samaritan.
Over the hill the Diocese has another mission called Holy Apostles.
All of these missions are run by Padre Aurelio, whose main church, St Mary the Virgin, is two miles away. In each of them there are workshops for women called "Creative Hands".
We thank all those who have enabled this mission to grow as it has and we ask your prayers for all its workers.

Pastor Israel Batista of CLAI visits Diocese

2007-07-22T17:19:00.000-05:00

The Rev. Israel Batista, General Secretary of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), visited the Diocese on July 21st.
He began his visit meeting with with representatives of St Peter's Mission where breakfast was being prepared for the children. In the second photograph he can be seen talking with Claudia Varillas.
From there he went on to Holy Family Mission in Villa Maria (third photo) and talked with members of the women's workshop where he tasted their cooking and was presented with an alpaca scarf.
He concluded his visit speaking to clergy, seminarians, mission workers and representatives of AMA, the Diocesan Youth Ministry and Administration (first photo - Israel Batista is on the front row, second from left; Dr Elizabeth is in the middle on the front row). All concluded that it had been an excellent meeting and Pastor Batista gave an inspiring message of encouragement to the Anglican Church, reminding us all of the unique role we have to play in Latin America, a role, he said, "that no other church could play, holding together both the catholic and evangelical nature of the Church."
The General Secretary was accompanied in his visit by the new Secretary of the Andean Region, Dr Elizabeth, a member of the Evangelical Pentecostal Church of Chile and Doctor of Theology, who has been invited to speak at the Diocesan Seminary on her next visit to Peru.

Earlier in the week Pastor Batista had met with other member churches of CLAI, as well with representatives the Congress of the Republic, and the Peruvian Bible Society.

Lima Teachers Day Away

2007-07-22T16:19:00.000-05:00

Over forty teachers and auxiliary personnel from our three Lima schools enjoyed a day of continuing education and recreation in Santa Eulalia on July 20th.

Accompanied by the head teachers and parish clergy, they took part in team building exercises in the morning and in the afternoon each school made presentations of dancing, drama and sketches.
The Bishop and Judith joined them for a lunch of anticuchos - a typical Peruvian dish of marinated and barbecued ox heart - and the presentations. The day began and ended in prayer, and before the bus left for Lima all joined in a game of volley ball.
The day was organised by Padre Jorge Aguilar, the President of COANED, the newly formed Anglican Consorcio of Education, which is responsible for schools and education in the Diocese.

In the second photo are the three head teachers with the Bishop: Isabel Montoya of Holy Trinity School (left of Bishop), Carmen Sanchez of St Matthew's School (to the right of the Bishop) and Pattie of Christ the Redeemer (on the right of the photo).

Babies dying of cold - Blanket Appeal

2007-07-19T17:02:00.001-05:00

"Babies and children are dying of cold, sleeping on sand without blankets."
This is what Dr Jesus Urbina revealed about the community in which he works in northern Lima. Time and again he was being called by desperate parents to attend to their sick children. And for the adults too, many of whom are handicapped, the situation was no better.
An immediate appeal for blankets was made and there came an immediate response from St Mark's Cathedral in Minneapolis. Blankets were bought and distributed among the people. Prayers were offered and thanks expressed to God for their response of love.

The remarkable photo shows some of the women and children on the evening the blankets were given out, with the figure of the suffering, crucified Christ behind them.

THE APPEAL CONTINUES
The appeal continues as we seek to (i) build up a stock of blankets in the Diocese to enable us to provide an immediate response whenever needed; (ii) provide mattresses which will give protection against the damp and cold of the sand.

Blankets and mattresses costs $10 or £5 each.

If you would like to send donations, contact:
Susan Kerr (USA) - tel. 972 618 0222;
Patrick Mackie (UK) - tel. 01949 20519;
Margaret Rutter (UK) - tel. 01905 20537

Cathedral Confirmations and Receptions

2007-07-19T13:10:00.000-05:00

Several members of the Cathedral's Spanish-speaking ministry were confirmed on June 24th, and others were received into the Anglican Communion. The candidates were presented by the Rev Canon Juan Bernardo Marentes (on the left in the photo) during a celebration over which the Bishop presided. Among them were two seminarians, Carlos and Juan Carlos, also seen in the photo.
The priest in charge of the the Spanish-speaking ministry in the Cathedral is the Padre Juan Bernardo Marentes who is assisted in his pastoral ministry by Padre Jaime Siancas. The two work together, putting strong emphasis on home visits, discipling and congregational life, and they are now seeing the life of the community grow steadily in spiritual maturity and numbers.
Although the number of candidates was not large, it was an important sign of growth for the Diocese which has longed to see a strong Spanish-speaking ministry with a clear Anglican identity in the Cathedral for a number of years. It is also significant in that it is one of the few parishes of the Diocese in a middle class area.
We ask your prayers for the congregation, its clergy, people and ministry

Max Diaz and Bishop in Oxford

2007-07-04T17:20:00.001-05:00

The Bishop met seminarian Max Diaz in Oxford this week.
Max was a member of the Diocesan Seminary in Arequipa during its first year before moving to Oxford four and a half years ago. It was a joyous occasions, their first meeting since he moved from Peru, so there was lots of news to catch up on. Max is studying theology at St Stephen’s House sponsored by the Diocese of Oxford.
It is a marvellous opportunity for him and he told the Bishop that besides his love of the first chapters of Genesis, he is especially interested in the early Church fathers and the formation of the New Testament Canon.
Since leaving Peru, Max has married Miriam, who is a doctor in Oxford.
[The Bishop is in Oxford for the conference “Following Jesus as Lord and Saviour” at Wycliffe Hall from 2nd- 6th July.]

Family News from England

2007-07-04T17:18:00.001-05:00

Guy and Martha gave me a warm welcome to a cold and rainy England last weekend en route to Oxford for a conference. They’re expecting their first baby in September (our third grandchild) and it was wonderful to see them.
Martha is taking me to the Royal Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this weekend with my two sisters, Elspeth and Heather, and my eldest niece Hazel, so it will be a very special time.
Then next week I go with Martha and Guy to Cornwall to see Matthew, who has recently announced his marriage to Alison at the end of September.

St Patrick's Mission in North Lima

2007-07-04T17:14:00.000-05:00

The new St Patrick’s Mission is set in an invasion of over half a million people on a bleak section of the coastal sand dunes to the north of Lima airport. [You can see the housing and coastline behind P. Jesus’ head in the photo.]
The mission especially serves a housing association for people with physical disabilities, some of them in wheel chairs. Despite their special needs, there is no running water or sanitation, only dirt roads and an infrequent bus service. People sleep in shacks on the damp sand, sometimes without blankets and suffering from arthritis and bronchial conditions. A number of children have died. They are cut off from sources of employment and almost forgotten by the world.
Fr. Jesús Urbino began working there during Lent this year and the mission has quickly become central to the life of this struggling community. Inspired by the story of the Celtic missionary, St Patrick, he lit a huge bonfire at the Easter Vigil, sending a vivid message of hope that the true light of Christ has come into the world, even for them. There is a growing community that gathers for worship and the local authority has gievn land for a church and centre. The mission offers limited medical care and, more recently, thanks to St Margaret’s Charlotte, has begun to provide food for the hungry children of the area. Thanks, too, to those who have sent money for blankets, especially St Mark’s Minneapolis.

[Until recently, most of the ministries of the Anglican Church have been in the southern and central areas of Lima. For some time there has been a growing desire in the diocese to reach out to the areas of the north. Now the Lord has opened the doors and over the last few months several new missions and home Bible study groups have sprung up quite spontaneously.]

Attack on priest and his family - the Bishop writes

2007-06-26T17:04:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,
It is with sadness but in the firmest faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that I write to you about the venemous and diabolical series of articles that was published on the internet yesterday against the Rev Juan Carlos Revilla, his wife Deacon Maria, and their family in Arequipa. It is an unprovoked and evil attack, written in cowardly anonimity, that sets out to wound them as a family, to stain their good name and to damage their ministry.
The Rev Juan Carlos is an excellent priest who has a flourishing ministry, in which he is fully supported by his wife, the newly ordained deacon Maria, and as their bishop and pastor I hold them in the highest regard and give them my complete backing. What has been said about them in these articles is simply not true.
I am writing so that you may know that as a diocesan family - bishop, clergy and people - we hold Juan Carlos and Maria, their sons Jasmany, Cristian and Jean Carlo, and their wider family in our fondest love and prayers; that we stand in total solidarity with them; and that we reject absolutely these things that have been said about them and the Anglican Church. We denounce the person or persons that have come against them in this unchristian way and pray for the Lord’s guidance, mercy and protection. We ask for your prayers too, that the Revillas and the Diocese may grow through this experience and give even greater glory to God in the days to come.
With my prayers and blessing,
+William Godfrey
Bishop of Peru

Fr Jesus Manuel welcomed into the Diocese

2007-06-21T23:13:00.001-05:00

Fr Jesus Manuel Mejía was received into the Anglican Communion during a special Eucharist in the Bishop's Chapel on June 21st.
A head teacher and former Roman Catholic priest, Fr Jesus had been considering the possibility of becoming an Anglican for some time.
He was accompanied in the Eucharist by his parents and his brother and sister.
Originally from Huaraz, he was greatly influenced by the Benedictine community there in his early years, and from this contact he heard God's call to the priesthood.
To begin with in the Diocese he will work closely with the Bishop, who made clear in his sermon that anyone who comes to the Diocese of Peru must be willing to be involved in mission. We are a missionary diocese and all we do is centred around the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to his Church to proclaim the Gospel and share his love with others.
[In the photo Fr Jesus (on the right) is accompanied by the Rev Misael Varillas, the Regional Vicar of Southern Lima.]

St Patrick's "Thank You" for food

2007-06-21T22:46:00.001-05:00

Women of St Patrick's Mission in northern Lima prepare food provided by St Margaret's Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
They are happy that now they have a regular gift for food, thanks to the generosity of their brothers and sisters in the north.
The poster behind them says it all: "St Patrick's Mission thanks the Parish of St Margaret for helping the children" and the smile on their faces.
This is one of our poorest missions where the people live in the cold, damp sand, just a few hundred yards away from the Pacific Ocean.
It's no tropical paradise and every week bronchitis claims the lives of under-nourished children who sleep on the sand with no matress.
The Anglican Diocese is committed to working here to bring the love of God and practical assistance... food, medicine, care, and God's word and sacraments.

San Pedro building work continues

2007-06-16T16:39:00.001-05:00

Building work continues on the hillside above San Pedro Mission Church. Classrooms are being constructed for the next phase of the mission work which will include a programme for fifty mothers and babies in this area of extreme poverty.
The programme is being directed by the Rev Misael Varillas in conjunction with Compassion International.
In the photo you can see the roof of the mission church on the right, the new kitchen which is painted a creamy yellow at the back, and the new class and meeting rooms that are being built.
Our aim is for the new programme to be working by September.
The San Pedro Mission (St Peter's Mission) began several years ago in a temporary church made of wicker panels. It is now a thriving community which reaches out to the families round about and their children. (See earlier article published below.)
Our sincere thanks to our supporters and donors for their prayers and practical support.

News from other Diocesan Sites

2007-06-16T16:24:00.000-05:00

You may be interested to know that the number of News Sites in the Diocese - like this one - is growing. You can see a list of them in the top right hand corner of this blog. Click on the name and you will be able to enter the site.

They are published by some of our parishes, missions or ministries.... some are in English, others in Spanish, but they all aim to bring you up to date news about what is happening in our Diocese and its mission work.

At present the list of links includes:
LIMA
Christ the Redeemer Church (Cristo Redentor)
St Matthew's School (Colegio San Mateo)
St Francis Mission (Mision San Francisco)
The Ascension Mission (Mision La Ascension)
St Mary the Virgin Mission (Santa Maria Virgen)

AREQUIPA
Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor)
St Luke's School (Colegio San Lucas)
St Joseph and Holy Family Children's Homes (San Jose, Sagrada Familia)
Rev Ron and Vicki Robertson News

The Diocesan Administration

We hope you like them and God bless you.

James' 5th Birthday

2007-06-04T13:07:00.000-05:00

James, the Bishop's oldest grandchild celebrated his fifth birthday on Saturday (2nd June). Among his presents was one wrapped especially in the form of a mitre...... not an unfamiliar headress in the family!
Happy birthday James.
With love from,
Grandpa
xxxxx

Breakfast and Building Work at San Pedro

2007-05-30T22:07:00.000-05:00

Claudia gathers children from the area around San Pedro Church (Lima) for breakfast. Today it's a birthday and there's a chocolate cake. While they all gather round to sing "happy birthday" and receive their piece of cake, the workmen continue to lay the foundations of new classrooms.
San Pedro is to be the site of the new Compassion International project for mothers and children under three years of age. It will begin with fifty mothers and has been chosen because of the excellent project run by the Rev Misael Varillas in his other church, Cristo Redentor, further down the hill.
The site for the church and project was given by the local mayor and the space has been literally carved out of the rocky slope, as can be seen in the photo. The building behind the workmen is the project's kitchen, now functioning.
The children in the other photo are having their breakfast in the patio in front of the church, seen with the open doors.

St Philip's Cabanaconde - Colca Canyon

2007-05-28T20:06:00.001-05:00

Work continues on the mission post in the Colca Canyon, and the workmen, photographed with Padre Alejandro (on the right) and the building in the background, are now completing the plastering and the exterior stone work. There is still much to be done, but we hope to have the building in use within the next three months.
Besides the building work, Padre Alejandro has become a familiar face around town. In the photo (on the left) he is talking to a local farmer on his horse. As a quechua speaker, he has been welcomed by the people and it is now common knowledge that there will soon be an Anglican Church in the town. Recently a crowd of over fifty people gathered in the Town Hall to watch a video of the life of Jesus.
Ruben Mancilla, a seminarian and Lay Minister from Villa El Salvador, Lima, has been posted to Cabanaconde, to help Padre Alejandro, and from August he will move to take his place alongside him as a missionary in the Canyon.

The Colca Canyon is one of the deepest in the world, three quarters of a mile deep at one point. In the photo (on the right), the canyon can be seen beyond our new building, and the snow capped mountains are on the opposite side of it.

On the Street on Pentecost Day

2007-05-28T19:23:00.000-05:00

On Pentecost Day the Bishop visited two missions which meet on the streets of the Independencia District of Lima. In both places Peter's words from Acts 2 were read, words first spoken on the streets of Jerusalem!
The first celebration took place outside a centre for handicapped people, "Hearts United in Solidarity and Action" and the second in a community on the edge of the city, where the road climbs into the foothills of the Andes and comes to a steep end.
Both missions are organised by the Deacon Benjamin Salas, helped by his wife Livia. Benjamin is a talented musician and leads the worship with either a guitar or key board. As the Gospel was preached, people leaned out their windows and passers by stopped to listen. There was a deep sense of relevance to be celebrating Pentecost on the streets and deeply moving experience.
After the service the Bishop discussed with community leaders how a soup kitchen might be organised and run. Many children in the area suffer from malnutrition, making them vulnerable to TB and other diseases, and less able to ope well with study.
A young teenager, Michael.,was brought to the bishop after the service. He told how he was abandoned by his parents when he was young and lives alone, doing odd jobs for people so as to receive food. He was a delightful young man and it was a heart breaking story, one to which we must respond.... how, yet, I do not know. But Jesus' words ring in my heart, "in as much as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40.

Pentecost at The Ascension Mission

2007-05-28T18:54:00.000-05:00

The Ascension Mission celebrated its second anniversary on Pentecost Day, praying for a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the next stage of its life and mission.
Very soon the congregation is to move to a new location where it will share facilities with the Seminary and Diocesan Centre. The mission will have the use of the ground floor of the three storey building, which has a chapel for 150-200 people and excellent classrooms and office facilities. Behind the present building there is space for a future parish church, letting out onto a busy suburban avenue - an excellent location!
After the Eucharist some of the children made a presentation about the Holy Spirit's coming to Jesus' disciples and the "birthday" of the Church. Following the service there was a bring share lunch and the inevitable birthday cake. The mission is led by the Rev Alberto Valdivia (seen in the photo, top left, with his wife Gianina), who is looking forward to the move and the challenge of ministry in a middle class area.

St Patrick's - Our Newest Mission Church

2007-05-26T17:31:00.001-05:00

St Patrick's in the northwest of Lima, is our newest mission. It has grown up in a housing cooperative for handicapped people. Fr Jesus Urbina, who is also the diocesan doctor, began the work there in March of this year. Some of the people were born with handicaps and others have been handicapped in road or industrial accidents. They have put up sheeting around the lot they have been given for a church and hope to begin construction of a multi-purpose building there soon.
The area is called Ventanilla and is on a sloping hillside overlooking the ocean. It is a new area, mainly of sand, that has been populated in the last three years by over half a million people. There are almost no facilities and a very infrequent bus service, and the population is very isolated. Fr Jesus says that because most of the people sleep on the sand, without matresses, and because of the damp climate and poor nutrition, TB and bronchitis are very common. So the mission has a soup kitchen and funds have recently been donated to help provide a daily meal for the children. There is also talk of beginning a school.

St Patricks is one of three new missions in the north of Lima, all of which have sprung up in the last few months.

[You can see the ocean is in the background of the second photo.]

Carrot Cake and Hairdressing

2007-05-26T16:13:00.000-05:00

Over thirty women have enrolled for the workshops "Manos que crean" (Creative Hands) in the Holy Family Mission in Villa Maria de Triunfo, and on Thursday (May 24) they were learning to make carrot cake and chocolates. The workshop, which started three weeks ago, is led by Gloria from St Mary's Mission and meets three afternoons a week. Each woman paid an enrollment fee of 40 cents (25p) and their fund, from the sale of their work, now stands at $65 (£30).
The workshop operates in a shelter made of wicker sheets. It is also used as a medical centre when the diocesan doctors visit the area, a hairdressing salon, and the church on Sundays, a truly holistic mission enterprise.
The Holy Family Mission began just before Christmas 2006 and is now a flourishing community lead by Padre Aurelio Rodriguez. They have two sites amidst a population of approximately 15,000 people. It is an area of extreme poverty which has had no running water or sewage system for over 15 years. Work will begin soon on both the church and the Good Samaritan Centre, which will house a clinic and children's centre as well as the workshops.
Gloria, who is the director of the workshop, also began a shoe making project in St Mary's Church. It is hoped that a grant will be found to enable her magnificent work to continue and reach out to more women.

Deacons' Meeting in Lima

2007-05-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

Deacons from Dallas (USA), Argentina, Uruguay and Cuba met with deacons and lay ministers from Peru for a week long conference at the end of April and beginning of May. The purpose was to enrich and encourage deacons in their office and ministry and to promote the "permanent diaconate" in the Diocese of Peru.
During the first three days the visitors were taken to see the churches and ministries of the Diocese by the home deacons.
On the following days there were teachings, consultations and testimonies. Presentations were made to seminarians and priests, and there was an open vocational evening to which 76 people came.
The Diocese of Peru aims to encourage and promote the "permanent diaconate" as a significant and central ministry. The Diocese of Dallas, through its Bishop, the Rt Rev James Stanton, has played an important role in developing the permanent diaconate, and this has been a major source of inspiration and encouragement to Bishop William.

The Diocese of Peru now has seven deacons: Maria, Norma, Patricia, Rachel, Benjamin, David and Justo. The visiting deacons included Diana, Nancy, Toni, Felicia, David and Philip (all from Dallas), Monica (Argentina) and Martha (Cuba and Uruguay). In the photo they are seen with several of our Lay Ministers.

The diaconate is the first of the holy orders of the Church and has existed since New Testament times, where it is referred to on a number of occasions. All ordained clergy are first ordained deacon, and they remain deacons even if later they go on to become priests or bishops. The word deacon comes from the Greek word which means "servant" and their ministry and calling is to exemplify and live out the sacrificial and loving service of Jesus Christ. This they do in many different forms of ministry alongside the bishop, assisting the Church wherever they are sent by him.

St Matthew's School's New Banner

2007-05-09T19:13:00.000-05:00

The new banner of St Matthew's School, Lima, was presented in the Cathedral during the ordination service on 5th May. The school was represented by the the Head Teacher, members of staff, parents and pupils.
After the service, during which the children behaved beautifully, pupils and staff presented a number of traditional Peruvian dances. Finally they danced through the reception, drawing people into their dance and presenting the guests with typical hats and shawls.
In a speech, the Head Teacher, Mrs Carmen Sanchez, said that the presentation of dances was done with much love and in honour of the newly ordained deacon and our visitors.
The dancing was a beautiful and inspiring conclusion to a memorable and historic event in the life of the diocese.

[In the photo is the Bishop and the Rev Jorge Aguilar - the School Chaplain - with the new banner.]

Derwent Hockey Club colours in South America

2007-05-09T18:00:00.000-05:00

The Bishop recently celebrated his birthday and among his presents was a very special gift indeed from England - his old hockey colours.
He played for Derwent Hockey Club for over fifteen years as a winger and centre forward and it was an emotional moment to put on the "magenta and navy blue halves" again for his morning run round the park.
Maybe the shirt had changed a bit.... now more a maroon than magenta, short sleeved (obviously for tropical use), and with advertising sponsorship names! And the badge had changed too.... no longer the "rampant trout" of the Derwent River, but rather a shield and the club's year of foundation 1897!
Thanks to all who got it out to Peru for me. A really brilliant present.

[PS There is no truth in the rumour that the Bishop will be playing for the Amazon Hockey Club - with its "rampant piranha" badge.]

Childrens' Home Quilts

2007-05-09T17:31:00.000-05:00

The young people of our Holy Family Children's Home in Arequipa have been receiving lessons in using their new sewing machine. Their first product is a quilt, made up of patterned squares with the symbols of different saints.
Each of the young people received lessons from Sherry Schwarz, a member of the "Roof Dogs" group, who recently spent two weeks in Arequipa.
The youngsters quickly learnt basic skills and were soon working on skirts and other items of clothing.
[The "Roof Dogs" are a group of people from Plano dedicated to helping the children and young people of our Homes in Arequipa. Their name is taken from the watch dogs which live on the roofs of many houses in Peru, guarding and "watching out" for the family.
Sherry Schwarz - top left in photo - raises funds for different projects of the Diocese, especially of the Children's Homes.]

Reception of Priest and "charismatic" Church Planter

2007-05-06T12:33:00.000-05:00

Fr Jesus Urbina was received with his wife Angela and son Sebastian into the Anglican Communion during the Eucharist on Saturday 5th May.
Fr Jesus is a medical doctor who resigned his orders in the Roman Catholic Church several years ago. He is now in charge of the Medical Mission of the Diocese and is organising clinics and medical services in the shanty towns (Pueblos Jovenes) of Lima.
As well as his medical work he has already planted two new missions in the north of Lima, one called St Patrick's, after Fr Urbina was so moved by the history of Anglicanism's Celtic forebears. His infectious smile, enthusiastic spirit and passion for serving the poor in Jesus' name, make him an excellent church planter. St Patrick's Mission is based in an area that has been populated by a "housing cooperative" of handicapped people in Ventanilla, Callao.

Ordination of New Deacon

2007-05-06T12:06:00.000-05:00

María Andía was ordained deacon on Saturday 5th May in the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Lima.
The ordination came as the highlight of a week long conference on the "permanent deaconate", to which deacons from the Dioceses of Dallas, Argentina, Uruguay and Cuba, as well as Peru, were invited.
María was among the first class of seminarians to graduate from the Diocesan Seminary in Arequipa in December 2004. She will serve in her home parish of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) in Arequipa, where her husband Fr Juan Carlos Revilla is the parish priest.
Among her present responsibilities are the sercretariat of the Seminary and the Arequipa office of Diocesan Administration. María and Juan Carlos have three sons.
[María is on the right of the Bishop in the photo, surrounded by other deacons and lay ministers.]

New Diocesan Leadership Centre

2007-04-30T14:14:00.000-05:00

With the help of its friends of Christ Church Plano, the Anglican Church of Peru is buying a former school with a chapel to house its Seminary and other central diocesan ministries.
If the purchase goes through, the Centre will be called the Christ the King Centre, and provide facilities for the Bishop's Office, the Seminary, the Diocesan Administration, the Consortium of Anglican Schools, Women's Ministry (AMA), Youth Ministry, and Pastoral and Discipleship Ministries.
It will also be home for the Ascension Mission, which will move from its present site in La Victoria.
The building has 13 large classrooms as well as common space for diocesan activities - retreats, youth events, synods and assemblies - and has two 5-a-side football pitches, a volley ball and basket ball court, as well as a fronton wall.
For the past years the Diocese has been under real pressure because of the lack of facilities for its central ministries and to find a facility of this quality, ready for us to move into, is a GIFT FROM GOD. Only He can do something of this order and it is of very great strategic importance as the Diocese continues to expand and grow.
All being well, we hope to move in before the end of May and then it will be all hands on deck as we prepare it for use - decorate and equip - and we shall need all the help of all the diocese, and our friends outside to enable us to do that.

Jesus Film in San Francisco

2007-04-15T18:11:00.000-05:00

Children and adults watched the "Jesus" video in the San Francisco Mission on Good Friday evening. About 50 people were there for what was an inspiring time.
The mission meets in a church made of wicker sheets while they wait for earth moving equipment to come and enable building works to begin.
Luis Galvez is the leader of the mission team and works together with Maria Isabel Marentes y Sonia Chambi.

Children from San Francisco de la Cruz

2006-12-23T19:23:00.001-05:00

Children from one of the newest missions in the Diocese gathered on Friday for their Christmas "chocolatada". This hot chocolate drink is the traditional festive drink at Christmas in Peru and is accompanied by "panetone", a light fruit cake.
The photo was taken on the land where the mission will be built and work begins with heavy earth movers in January. A two storey building will be put up with a clinic and children's centre on the bottom floor and the church and training workshops on the top. Because of the steep incline on which it will be built, access to both floors is from ground level.
The church is being planted by a team of mission workers from the Diocese, supervised by Fr Juan Bernardo Marentes, a Colombian mission priest from SAMS USA.

Baptism and First Communion in Cathedral

2006-12-23T19:00:00.001-05:00

Twelve children and two adolescents were baptised in the Cathedral on December 8, most from St Matthew's Anglican School in San Juan de Lurigancho. Later in the service, 37 received their First Communion on what was a very special day.
Bus loads of children and parents came from the school to their Cathedral Church. Those who received their first Communion had been prepared by Fr Jorge throughout the year and had been looking forward to this day for a long time. After the Eucharist there was cake and refreshments in the hall before the children made the hour long journey back to their homes.
Later in the day the Bishop and several of the clergy went on to St Mary's Church, where again there were Baptisms and First Communions. December 8 is a traditional day for First Communions in Peru.

Changes to Church in Juliaca

2006-12-22T14:57:00.000-05:00

The Mission Church in Juliaca is undergoing some radical changes. Converted from an old shop, a raised area for the sanctuary and four arched windows have been put in, an old pillar in the middle of the space has been removed, and a neighbouring room made into a sacristy with its own access.
There is still much to do - painting walls, sanding and polishing the floor, making pews and sanctuary furniture, but the congregation is beginning to see the vision become reality and are delighted about it.
The Bishop was present on Sunday evening (Dec 17) to celebrate the Eucharist having travelled through an electric storm and torrential rain in the mountains to get there. As the rain eased people eventually began to arrive at the church, and there was great excitement to see the changes.
St Mary Magdalene Mission is also the home to the local office of ECLOF (the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund), which is involved in a small loans programme with the Diocese. Every week 800 people pass through the offices and the mission is seeking ways of serving them with a child care project and a soup kitchen. Staff members of ECLOF were present at the Eucharist on Sunday and everyone is concerned to see that the church and this important ministry work effectively together.
As well as the church area, there are also five rooms on the second floor, an ample classroom, a kitchen and a multi-use building with two large rooms. In the next stage of development new bathrooms will also be installed.

The mission's single biggest need is to find a priest and mission workers. At present P. Juan Carlos Revilla and seminarians make the five hour journey each weekend to serve the people.

Preaching the Word of God

2006-12-21T20:00:00.004-05:00

Sunday by Sunday, day by day, God's Word is proclaimed in the churches of our Diocese. It is one of the Bishop's primary tasks and he, together with his priests, deacons and lay ministers, sets out to open the Scriptures to his people. God's Word is part of our daily bread.

Our Diocese reads the Scriptures from cover to cover, following the lectionary - the plan which sets out our daily readings - which is found in the Prayer Book. Not only do we read the Bible in services, but also in prayer groups and Bible studies, and in our private devotions, and always with the aim of letting God speak to us, his people.

In studying Scripture one encounters Jesus! To read the Scriptures we need a quiet place and a quiet mind, so that we can direct our attention to this meeting with him. He speaks to us in Scriptures. St Ambrose said, To be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Jesus.

Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of your holy Word. May it be a lantern to our feet, a light to our paths, and a strength to our lives. Take us and use us to love and serve in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

[Photos of churches. Top: Church of St John the Evangelist, Pamplona Baja, Lima; Middle: Church of Christ the Redeemer, Arequipa; Bottom: Church of Jesus the Saviour, Villa El Salvador, Lima.]

Confirmations in Christ the Redeemer

2006-12-21T19:31:00.000-05:00

Five young women were confirmed by the Bishop in the Church of Christ the Redeemer, Lima, on Sunday December 10.
They had been prepared by Lizbeth Varillas, the leader of Young People in the Diocese, and soon to qualify as a teacher.
The Bishop asked all the congregation to call in silence on God the Holy Spirit while he layed on hands and prayed for each of the candidates: Defend, O Lord, your servant Gimena with your heavenly grace that she may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in the Holy Spirit more and more until she comes to your everlasting kingdom. He then marked their foreheads with a cross in holy oil as a sign of the Spirit's anointing and a reminder of their baptism.

Ordinations in Lima

2006-12-21T18:54:00.000-05:00

Two priests and two deacons were ordained in our Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on the Feast of Christ the King, November 26.
Allen Hill and Aurelio Rodriguez were ordained as priests, and Justo Maqque and Patricia Blanchard as deacons.
Bus loads of supporters came from several of our missions, as well as from our St Matthew's School. Pat was supported by her friend Helen from England as well as many from her church, among them the music group which provided sparkling Andean music in the liturgy; Justo by his wife Cornelia, his daughters and friends from Arequipa; Allen by his parents Jim and Harriet from the USA, as well as by his wife Rachel and boys James and John; and Aurelio was supported by his brother and sister from Huaral, as well as the Lady Mayoress from Villa Maria del Triunfo and a crowd of his people. But we all supported and prayed for each other and felt the marvellous presence of God. The sight of almost 30 seminarians entering the Cathedral in their white albs was like a sign of the future and God's promises being fulfilled, and I could imagine them in years to come carrying the Gospel message to different corners of this beautiful land.
Allen Hill is the Director of the Seminary and Aurelio Rodriguez is the mission priest in the St Mary the Virgin Mission. Pat Blanchard is the Deacon in Charge of the Jesus the Nazarene Mission, Lima, and Justo Maqque is the Assistant Deacon in St Luke's, Arequipa.

[Photo from left to right: Allen Hill, Rachel Hill, the Bishop, Marco Gomez, Aurelio Rodriguez, Anderson Sanchez and Justo Maqque. I don't know what happened to Pat in this photo, but she was there!]

Seminary Graduations in Arequipa

2006-12-21T18:35:00.000-05:00

Seminarians Nestor, Zoila and Daniel received diplomas at a ceremony on December 16 in Christ the Redeemer, Arequipa.
Nestor and Zoila received Bishop's Certificate 2, and Zoila and Daniel Bishop's Certificates 1.
All three of the seminarians are deeply involved in ministry in Christ the Redeemer Parish and its 5 missions. Every Sunday they lead services, preach and take the Blessed Sacrament. One of the missions, St Mary Magdalene's in Juliaca, is a 5 hours bus journey from Arequipa. As well as Sunday services, they also help with Evening Prayer and pastoral work on week days.
The aim of the Seminary is to prepare men and women for lay and ordained ministry, giving them the best theological training we can, and ensuring that what they learn can be applied in practical mission and ministry. Strong emphasis is also placed on spirituality, worship and prayer.
All three of these seminarians will now be considered to become Licensed Lay Ministers, and, if they are called by God, for Holy Orders.
[In the photo, the seminarians are dressed in black cassocks, and from left to right are Nestor, Zoila and Daniel; also in the photo are the Revs. Juan Carlos Revilla, Ron Robertson, Allen Hill and Justo Maqque, and the Bishop and seminarian Danjer]

Canon David Roseberry in Peru

2006-12-21T16:46:00.003-05:00

Canon David Roseberry, from Christ Church, Plano, was in Peru last week. As a licensed priest of the Diocese, he was welcomed to the Cathedral by the Dean. After two days of retreat in Chaclacayo, he travelled to Arequipa for the graduation ceremony of three seminarians before returning to Texas.
He is seen in the photo playing the guitar with the music group at the Eucharist in Christ the Redeemer, Arequipa. Vicki Robertson, a missionary from Fr David's parish, is also seen in the picture. Vicki's husband, Fr Ron, is the Rector of the Seminary in Arequipa and Regional Dean of Southern Peru.
Christ Church, Plano, is one of the Diocese's closest friends and many members of the congregation have come to Peru in mission teams. The links of friendship go back to 1998.

Mission Centre in Colca Canyon

2006-12-21T14:16:00.001-05:00

The Mission Centre in the Colca Canyon now has the roof of the ground floor. The Bishop was in Cabanaconde (where the centre has been built) on December 18-19 to see progress.
This first floor will house the kitchen, dining room, a bedroom and two bathrooms.
Work on the second floor begins today, December 21, and it is hoped to have the roof on by Epiphany (January 6).
The Centre is being faced in stone from the surrounding hills and the roof will be finished in thatch, all of which will blend in perfectly with the surrounding area. The views of the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world (over 3/4 mile at some points), are spectacular.
The Mission Centre is a quarter of a mile outside the local town, Cabanaconde, and will serve both the local town and the 12 villages on the other side of the Canyon. Many of the villages are over a day's walk away, along narrow mountain paths. Mission teams will go out from the Centre, and local catechists will be brought in for training and support. P. Alejandro is the mission priest in charge of the work. The Mission will have it's own donkeys and mules, an essential means of transport in the mountains.
The Mission's name is San Felipe (St Philip's), although we've not yet decided if it is to be St Philip the Apostle, St Philip the Deacon (Acts 6) or St Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8).... or maybe we should include them all as we hope the mission will be apostolic, "diaconal" (in service), and evangelistic.... so maybe it should be "The Saints Philip Mission".
There will be a second block with more bedrooms, an office, meeting room and chapel. The third phase of the development will be a church.
[The photos show: (top left) the Mission Centre with the mountains on the far side of the Colca Canyon; (top right) front view of the building; (bottom left) Reynaldo, the Bishop, P. Alejandro and Richard standing in front of the stone facade; (bottom right) P. Alejandro, Reynaldo and Richard looking at the new roof.]

Bishop's Seat

2006-12-21T13:38:00.000-05:00

During his visit to the new Mission Centre in the Colca Canyon, the Bishop was presented with a large stone weighing a ton. The five construction workers had brought it from two miles away to be a seat for the Bishop. They had had to move his favourite "prayer rock" when the new building's foundations were being laid, and now they wanted to put another one in its place.
How they moved it from so far is a mystery.... but then again, when you visit Macchu Picchu and other marvellous Inca sites, and see the enormous stones and know how far they were brought, one has to remember that these workmen are from the same stock and descendants of that incredible culture.
The workers want the rock to sit facing the mountains on the far side of the canyon, a seat of prayer for the Bishop and a real catedra.

Clergy and Wives Prayer Breakfast

2006-10-03T21:14:00.000-05:00

A group of clergy and wives met for a prayer breakfast with Judith at the Bishop's house last Saturday morning, 30th September.
This lovely photo shows on the back row: Maria Isabel Marentes, Judith Godfrey, Susan Park, Claudia Varillas, Norma Montoya, Pat Blanchard, Blanca Siancas and Elva Limo. The front row includes, Juan Bernardo Marentes, Aurleio Rodriguez, Julio Montoya, Misael Varillas, and Jaime Siancas behind Juan Carlos Marces.
The photograph was taken in the Bishop's Chapel.
(Pat Blanchard is to be ordained deacon on the Feast of Christ the King, 26th November in the Cathedral. At the moment she is Lay Minister in Charge of Jesus the Nazarene Church, Lima, and will continue there after her ordination.)

Springtime Comes to Lima

2006-10-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

Some of the 280 children of the Centro Estudiantil of Christ the Redeemer Church, Lima, took part in a celebration on the first day of spring. The event was very popular with parents and a group of the children presented dances and a fancy dress parade.

Bishop's Visit to St Petroc's Bodmin

2006-10-02T20:50:00.000-05:00

Following his retreat in London the Bishop paid a whistle-stop visit to Bodmin and St Petroc's Parish Church. He was greeted by Fr Graham, the Rector, and of course Fr Matt. In the photo they are shown with their Peruvian stoles - Fr Matt's stole was made by the Arpillera's Group of the Diocese in Lima.

Retreat at Nashotah House Seminary

2006-10-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

The Bishop is leading a retreat for 65 seminarians and members of staff of the Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin, USA. The retreat begins on Monday evening (2nd October) and finishes on Thursday.
The seminary, which began in the mid 19th century, was one of the most significant mission agencies of its time, planting churches in many parts of the mid-west. Now, once more, it is putting strong emphasis on mission.
The photo shows the two oldest buildings of the seminary: the blue one was the accomodation and classroom block and a year later the chapel (pink building) was added.
It is hoped that the seminary will establish links with the two seminaries in the Diocese of Peru

Bishop leads retreats in UK and USA

2006-09-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

The Bishop is in London from September 23rd-30th to lead the bible studies at the International Bishops' Conference at the Pastoral Centre in London Colney, near St Albans. He will then travel on to Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin, USA for the annual seminarians' retreat, October 2nd-6th.
After the retreats he will be visiting partner churches in the Diocese of Dallas and returns to Peru on October 18th.
During his time away please pray especially for him, for Judith and the Diocese.

Day Out for Mission in Southern Lima

2006-09-17T14:25:00.000-05:00

Over 300 people from various of our missions took part in an outing on St Rose of Lima Day. They went to one of the biggest parks in the south of the city for a picnic and games.

Oratory in St Matthew's School

2006-09-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

The First Communion Class at St Matthew's School welcomed the Bishop and Judith for a celebration of the Eucharist at the beginning of September. The Headteacher, Prof. Carmen Sanchez (right) and Rev Jorge Aguilar, the parish priest (back left) were there - dressed in the school's new track suit colours - together with P. Jorge's wife Sandra and their son Georgie. The day of their First Communion will be December 8th.
On the same day the school held a fund raising event at which almost one thousand meals were served - chicken and french fries (chips for the English!) - and over US$1,000 was raised for school funds. All the teachers and many parents helped and besides raising funds it was an excellent community building day for the school.

Roof for New Church - Jesus El Salvador

2006-09-17T14:05:00.000-05:00

A roof is being put on the Jesus El Salvador Church (Jesus the Saviour) in southern Lima. Work began on it almost two weeks ago and will bring the whole area of the church into use for worship. For the past few months only the area under the balcony has been available. The priest of the church is the Rev Juan Carlos Marces and there is great excitement in the congregation about the work being done.
This was one of the first churches in the Diocese to use the Alpha course, which is now being used in a number of our parishes and missions, and there has been real spiritual renewal and growth among the members of the congregation.

San Francisco Mission - blessing of the site

2006-09-17T13:50:00.000-05:00

The new San Francisco Mission took an important step forward when the local community made over a piece of land to the Diocese for development. Documents were signed in the presence of several hundred people, the Eucharist was celebrated and the land blessed.
Until now the land has been used as a rubbish tip. It is on a steep slope and two steps will have to be cut for construction work to begin. The proposal is to build a medical post, facilities for a children's centre, ocupational training worshops and a church. The photos show the Bishop with members of the local area committee and the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

Soup Run in Central Lima

2006-09-16T11:54:00.000-05:00

Three of our seminarians, Carlos, Rolando and Juan Carlos, have been moved to respond with practical help to the needs of the homeless and street people in the centre of Lima. Every Friday night they begin their "soup run" at 10pm and are often on the streets talking to people and putting Christ's love into practice until the early hours of the morning.
Pray for the people they meet, for the three of them, for their safety, and that their mission may be filled with God's compassion and grace.

Partner Churches: San Lucas Arequipa - St Luke's Denison

2006-09-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

The San Lucas Mission in Arequipa is hoping to create a link with a partner church in the USA - St Luke's Church, Denison, Texas. The proposal has been made and both churches will be looking at what it will mean and the commitment they are making in the coming months.
Both churches have schools, both are committed to mission and both share the name of the Evangelist, St Luke. They have much to learn from each other and much to share.
The Rector of St Luke's is the Rev Curt Norman and he is keen to bring a mission team from Denison to visit San Lucas in 2007. The interim priest in charge of San Lucas will be the Rev Juan Carlos Revilla, who will be taking over following the deployment of the Rev Alejandro Mesco to the mission in Cabanaconde.
Parish to Parish relationships are an important means of encouraging the mission and growth of churches and the Diocese is keen to develop such links for all its congregations.

Women's Retreat in Lima

2006-09-13T10:00:00.001-05:00

Women from the AMA groups in Lima enjoyed a weekend at the Franciscan Retreat House in Rimac. The retreat was lead by Major Luz of the Salvation Army and the theme was Signs of the Times. A group of eight women from Christ Church, Plano, was among the sixty seven participants, making an important contribution to the testimonies, worship and other activities. Marsha Costus is the leader of the North American group.
The retreat concluded on Sunday morning with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by the Bishop.
The Plano group now goes on to Arequipa to lead a second retreat for the women of AMA there.
AMA stands for the Asociacion de Mujeres Anglicanas (the Association of Anglican Women), which is affiliated to the worldwide Mothers' Union with its headquarters in London.

Alms Houses in Lima?

2006-09-12T19:45:00.000-05:00

The Diocese has been asked to consider building a centre for "senior citizens" on a piece of land in La Tablada, a middle class area of Villa Maria de Triunfo. It is a big area of approximately 3,000m2 and initial thoughts are centred round an old fashioned "alms house" principle. It would also include occupational workshops, a chapel, community center and vegetable garden, and provide housing for local people as well as retired clergy.
Building small, individual houses around a central court yard would have the advantage of a rolling development, and would not involve a large initial investment.
While projects centred on children remain a priority, there is an ongoing need of provision for the elderly in supervised accomodation, and the move would have the full support of the local municipal authority.
The Bishop is due to meet with the Mayor and Local Councillors on Friday 15th September to discuss the proposal.

Baptism of Revs. Julio y Norma Montoya's Grandson

2006-09-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

Julito, the son of Julio and Rita, and the eldest grandson of the Revs. Julio and Norma Montoya, was baptised in the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in May. It was a very special occasion with all the family present. Lucas, Julito's cousin, was the Bishop's server and his grandfather Julio assisted.

The only member of the family who was unable to be there was Angelo, who lives in Italy. So a special greeting to him....

Un saludo muy especial para ti, Angelo, en Italia, y un gran abrazo de toda tu famila y amigos aquí en el Perú. Te queremos mucho y te extrañamos. Que nuestro Dios te bendiga y te guarde con su gracia y amor. Obispo William

Angelo is a member of the Anglican Church in Florence and the Diocese of Peru's "Youth Ambassador" in Italy.

Deacon David Gonzales Posted to Arequipa

2006-09-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

Deacon David Gonzales (on the left in the photo) has been posted to Arequipa to assist the growing Southern Region in its mission and ministry. David worked for eight years in the Mission Church of Jesus the Nazarene, Lima, before going to the Ecumenical Seminary in Cuba. He returned in July to take up his responsibilities again in the Diocese.
He was formally presented to the congregation of Christ the Redeemer Parish on Sunday 3rd September, where he will assist the Rev. Juan Carlos Revilla (on the right in the photo), who is the parish priest.
The Arequipa Region is one of the fastest growing areas in the Diocese and besides the two parishes (Cristo Redentor and San Lucas) has three missions, two diocesan missions (Juliaca and Cabanaconde), a seminary (Santos Agustin), two schools (San Lucas primary and high school), a pre-university academy (San Andres) and two children's homes (San Jose and Sagrada Familia).

Visit of the Lady Mayoress of Villa Maria del Triunfo

2006-09-09T15:02:00.000-05:00

The "First Lady" of Villa Maria del Triunfo, Doña Nery Tirado de Ipenza, visited the Mission Church of Santa Maria Virgen with representatives of Rotary Internacional, of which she is currently president.
The Municipal Authority is working with the Church in some of the Districts poorest areas to help improve the plight of the poorest. Padre Aurelio, who is the Deacon in charge of the mission, has been the vital link. Among his gifts is his love and ability with gardens, and the street outside the church has been transformed by his efforts and has plants and trees of every sort.
In 2005 the Bishop was given the keys to the City because of the Anglican Church's efforts and commitment to its people.

New Mission Post in Villa El Salvador

2006-09-09T14:48:00.000-05:00

San Andres is a new mission post in Villa El Salvador. Following the Eucharist on 20th August the Bishop was taken to visit the outreach by members of the mission team, which is led by Seminarian, Ruben Mancilla. It is an initiative of the Church of Jesus the Saviour, whose priest is the Rev Juan Carlos Marces.
Villa El Salvador is one of the largest municipal authorities in Lima, to the south of the city, and in the past thirty years has grown from nothing to over one million people. And people are still arriving to take over the desert areas which surrounds it, living to begin with in makeshift shelters of wicker panels and boarding, without sanitation, water and light. Pray that the Anglican Diocese may know how best to repond to the enormous needs and have the means to do so.

Request for Help

2006-09-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

The Bishop was taken to a Pueblo Joven in the Municipality of Villa Maria del Triunfo by a local councillor and asked to help the community with the development of a medical post, community centre and mission church.
It is an area of 15,000 people in a valley on the outskirts of Lima. There is nothing there except shacks and basic housing and the community is asking the Anglican Diocese to respond to their need.
As ever the Diocese is stretched for both human and financial resources yet hopes to respond in a practical, effective, and loving way. Pray for resources to respond and that the Lord will bless these people.

Presentation of Albs to New Seminarians

2006-09-07T15:04:00.000-05:00

Four new seminarians, Carlos, Juan Carlos, Rosario y Rolando, were presented with their albs at the Patronal Festival of their Mission Church, Santa Maria Virgen, on August 15th. They are photographed here with the Bishop and the Deacon in Charge of the Mission, Aurelio Rodriguez.