Columban Sisters Start New Mission in Peru

In April 2003, Sisters Mary Nolan and Anne Carbon set out for the village of Vinchos in the high Andes Mountains of Peru to begin a new missionary outreach to the people of that area.  Now, having settled in  their new surroundings they share with us some of what life is like for them in Vinchos.     

Greetings from 3,000 meters above sea level in Vinchos, Ayacucho!  
By Sisters Mary Nolan and Anne Carbon

The village of Vinchos is only about 55 kilometers from Ayacucho, one of the major cities of Peru.  Ayacucho was the seat of the "Shining Path" terrorist movement that began in Peru in the early 80's.  In the years following, the conflict that ensued resulted in the death of thousands of innocent people.  Many of these were farmers living in isolated villages like Vinchos.
We are presently renting a house and enjoy the constant passersby at our door every morning- children, horses, donkeys, chickens, pigs, etc. When we arrived here it was harvest time. Every day people came to our house with gifts of corn, potatoes, cereals of all kinds, milk, eggs, etc. We continue to make friends with the families around especially with the children.

On July 5^th, 2003 a celebration was held to welcome us to Vinchos.. The Archbishop of Ayacucho, Luis Sebastiani, attended. In addition to the local people, there were also sisters from the Religious Conference of Ayacucho, some priests, and Columban Sister Mary Neylon from Lima.  It was a very meaningful celebration for us as the people were invited by the Archbishop to protect us and know us as members of their family. After the Mass the Blessed Sacrament was taken in procession to our house. There it will be kept from week to week. This was followed by food for all prepared by the people themselves. 

As there is a high incidence of mental illness in the area due to the violence people have suffered,  Ann hopes to make a contribution in this area. She helps out in the health centres in Vinchos and in Ayacucho. 

Mary does pastoral counseling in the University of Ayacucho and collaborates with the teachers of religious education. We also do home visitation and try to reach out to the nearby villages sprinkled across the mountain.

We hope that our presence here will in some small way be life-giving for those whose lives we will touch.  

Since there has been no priest in this parish for over 20years, the local catechist has gathered the people together each Sunday for Scripture and prayer.  This Sunday, however, the people will once again have the opportunity to receive Communion when the Christian Community gathers for its weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

For more on the mission in Vinchos
click here