I, Pauline Coulterman, went to Peru in 1980 and returned to Canada in 2003.
Living in Peru for twenty-three years, gave me a great appreciation for what we have in Canada and a recognition of my great need to share what I can with the “People of Peru”.
The people with whom we, the Sisters of St. Joseph, are working in Chincha Alta, have a great love for us as we do for them. They are just so willing to give of their time and energies to help in the formation for ‘Basic Christian Communities’, the preparation for the Sacraments and/or any other initiative that is sent their way.
These People have the true Spirit and willingness to help others but often they themselves are in need of medicine, food and /or other basic needs of life. When I was there, I saw so many of our parishioners struggling to put their children into school, or struggling to find a job that would allow them to put food on the table for their family.
My time in Peru helped me to recognize that the ministry that we as Sisters continue to carry-on among the Peruvian People can only be done if the financial support comes from Canada.
I see that I can continue to serve the Peruvian People by being a liaison person between our Canadian Benefactors and our Peruvian Sisters in mission.
A good portion of my time in October is spent soliciting support from our Canadian Benefactors for the needs of the Peruvian People. Usually I send out about 300 letters of reminder to those who have supported us in the past couple of years.
By November and December donations returns are coming in and I spend many hours doing “thank you notes” to all, and pictures of school children to those who have chosen to sponsor the education of a child.
I do the campaigning for the mission in the Fall of the year to have a good picture of what funds might be available in January as the Sisters in Peru plan their Ministry for the New Year.
For ten years, the Pembroke Diocese was twinned with the archdiocese of Lima and I served on the Lima-Pembroke Partnership Committee. Working with this committee has opened the opportunity for me to organize and accompany groups to Peru, who are interested in a third world mission experience.
In the Month of October, I send out an e-mail invitation to all who have expressed a desire to visit Peru.
This year’s invite is as follows…
Dear Friends:
This is the time of year I start my ‘Fall Campaign’ for our Peruvian Mission in Chincha Alta. As many of you may know, Yvonne and I are no longer organizing Pilgrimages to Peru but I am open to organizing a trip for anyone wishing to visit Peru for the purpose of meeting Christ in the Peruvian People and to see how our Canadian funds are helping the people of Chincha and area.
I wish to invite anyone who wants to spend a week or two visiting the families in our Mission of Chincha Alta, Peru to come and be a part of that experience. Sisters María and Gloria are always happy to have friends from Canada come and visit them and be a part of their living situation for a short time. We also encourage those making the trip to Peru for the first time, to visit Cuzco and Machu Pichhu. (Lost city of the Inca’s in the mountains of Peru.)
I have four people who have already started giving thought to coming with me for a couple of weeks in February 2019 and I want to open it up to anyone else who might be thinking they would like to do this. Just send me an e-mail and I will forward you a tentative outline of the trip and an over-view of cost.
Every year I travel to Peru on the first Monday of February and return in March with the last of the visitors.
You are welcome to pass this message on to any of your family or friends who might be interested in visiting Peru.
Thank you for your interest and support of our Peruvian Mission.
This work gives me a great sense of fulfillment and allows me an opportunity to still a part of our Peruvian Mission without having to live in Peru.
My visit to Peru in February gives me the chance to help start the school children into their new school year, get a report from them regarding their studies of the previous year and pick up notes and pictures for their sponsors. My time in Peru is also spent visiting the ongoing projects that are being supported through Canadian funds. Senior home, nursery schools, water projects, soup kitchens or whatever might need our attention in the new year. My visit each year helps me stay in tune to the happenings in Chincha and thus more able to speak from experience when addressing school groups, C.W.L. groups and other organizations here in Canada. I take every opportunity I can to do presentations that would help people appreciate what they have and maybe someday be able to share with others.
My heart is with the Peruvian People and as long as I have the stamina to travel, my hope is to continue to introduce Canadians to the Peruvian reality.
Sr. Pauline, csj