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Making Much with Little in Northern Peru

Augustinians of the Midwest first went to what is now the Catholic Diocese of Chulucanas in Northern Peru in 1964 in response to a request from Pope John XXIII. The Pope asked North American religious communities to send missionaries to South America to save what was at that time a dying Church.

Today the Church in the Diocese of Chulucanas, Peru is alive and strong in the Faith. People can hear the Word of God and be nourished by the Sacraments of the Church. In fact, the Pastoral Plan of the Diocese of Chulucanas has become a model for meeting pastoral challenges with limited resources.

David J. Hougan, Director of the Office of Stewardship Development of the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois, describes below what he saw on a recent visit to Northern Peru. (Six priests from the Diocese of Rockford have served as missionaries in Peru. The Diocese continues to support the Church in Northern Peru with annual monetary donations and the Heart-to-Heart Project.)

Converting Challenges to Opportunities

The Church of Chulucanas faces many challenges.

The Diocese covers approximately 14,000 square miles. A third is coastal desert and the other two-thirds are in the Andes Mountains, extending from 3000 to 11,000 feet above sea level.

There are 17 parishes, each of which has anywhere from 50 to 130 villages within its jurisdiction. There are 20 diocesan priests, six Augustinian priests, 55 religious sisters and one deacon.

The total population of the Diocese is estimated at 450,000. Ninety per cent are Catholic.

A Pastoral Plan

Talk about a challenge! How do you effectively proclaim the Word of God with such limited resources?

The Augustinians and diocesan priests are doing it with a Diocesan Pastoral Plan. The Diocese of Chulucanas has organized itself at the grassroots level. Each parish is subdivided into zones. There are over 1300 zones.

Within each zone, the people are further divided into small faith communities. Lay leadership is identified, trained and formed so the people of these zones can be served in the absence of a priest.

Usually zone leadership is is made up of an elected coordinator, a vice-coordinator, a treasurer, a secretary and various others responsible for liturgy, catechesis, youth activities, fraternal assistance, justice and peace, social and community development and messengers.

Throughout the year zone leaders are convened at the parish for consultation, formation, planning and distribution of materials for prayer services, Bible studies, youth activities and special events.

Diocesan-wide gatherings for specific training take place every year at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Every three or four years there is a grassroots planning process with consultation from all sectors of the Diocese to determine goals and objectives for the next three or four years.

From 2005 through 2007, the overarching diocesan theme is Walking with Christ. From 2000 through 2004, the diocesan theme was United to Christ, We Renew the World.

More than 14,000 lay leaders are involved in these various levels. The results are impressive: In places where a priest or a sister has not been present in years, the children and adults all know their prayers, sing hymns with gusto, and publicly witness their Faith.

Another fruit of this effort is the growing number of candidates for the priesthood and/or brotherhood. The Diocese has 30 native Peruvian men studying for diocesan priesthood. Another 50 Peruvians are are studying in the formation programs of the Augustinian Order.

Without using the word stewardship, the people of Chulucanas are giving sacrificially of their time and talents to build up the Church.

Economic and Social Development as well as Spiritual Development

However, with such poverty the people are not able to give much treasure. To address this, and as part of the diocesan Pastoral Plan, the Church is deeply involved in advocating for the economic and social development of its people.

Besides preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and caring for spiritual needs, the Diocese has several programs that put the Gospel into practice by caring for material needs as well.

Learn More about the Augustinian Missions in Peru

• The Church at Work in Northern Peru

         » Social and Economic Development
               Helping the poor to help themselves in Northern Peru

         » The Bishop Visits
               Pastoral visits in Peru are a time of special blessing

         » Pastoral Journeys in Pacaipampa
               Travelling to remote Peruvian mountain villages to bring Christ to the people

         » Augustinians Return to San José Obrero
               Friars resume ministry in Chulucanas parish after five-year absence

• Children of Peru

         » Children of Peru: The Working Child
               Peruvian children must work to help their family make ends meet

         » Children of Peru: The Child at School
               The life of a young student in the mountains of Peru

         » Heart to Heart Project
               Helping poor Peruvian children to remain in school