Medical Clinic Visits St. Monica Chapel

St. John's medical team held a clinic at the St. Monica Chapel. Here is a report from Cheryl Pierce, the team leader. Thanks, Cheryl!

"Jim & I stopped at your chapel on the way back from the F2F lunch. The ladies were kind enough to bring the picture and the cross in so we could see it. They are beautiful. We had our last day of clinic at the chapel. Saw a really bad infection in one child that we are leaving money for so he can be referred. Hope to see him again in July."

Feeding Children Breakfast

St. Monica missionaries did not get to help feed children breakfast at the St. Monica chapel this year. Today I got some photos from another chapel where children were being fed oatmeal/hot chocolate and rolls at another chapel with the help of St. John missionaries. Often a child will eat only an evening meal.

St. John Dental Clinic

The St. John Dental Clinic is using five chairs this year compared to three in the past (see photo). There is always a large group of villagers waiting for free dental care. Last year the mother of my sponsored waited for 4-1/2 days and got in 15 minutes before the clinic closed for the year. Her husband slept outside of church at night to hold her place. Being poor is a difficult life.

St. John the Baptist Mission Trip

A missionary group from St. John the Baptist is now in Piura. Their group consists of medical, dental, and families. Some youth visited a man to whom I have taken Communion for several years. He is almost blind from cataracts and lives in a very small house by himself. A family member lives nearby and brings him food. He was ready for cataract surgery in June, but could not get to the clinic. He cries most of the time when I visit him.

Several photos I recently received showed two youth attending to his personal needs such as a haircut, shave (see photo), finger nails, etc. One photo amazed me: he was smiling! Yea for youth!

Epilogue 2 to St. Monica Mission Trip: New Name

I have had several names during my life that define who I am. A new one was given to me in the villages south of Piura: Papacito -- little priest. Now, I am definitely not any kind of priest, but I have been taking Communion to the homebound in the villages for so many years that they now recognize me. I always tell them that I am a deacon, but that means nothing to them because the Archdiocese of Piura does not have deacons.

Here are the other names:
- Lee: used all of my life
- Honey: by my wife
- Doctor: when I was a chemist
- Dad: my favorite until very recently
- Padrino: by my family in Peru and especially by their children because I am their godfather
- Papa: current favorite by my grandchildren

Epilogue to St. Monica Mission Trip: "Who Will Come?"

While preaching at the Mass at La Piedra last Friday, Fr. Joe asked the parishioners how many times they had Mass in the last year. I think the number was 20; anyhow it was way less than once per week.

La Piedra is a mission of another parish and there is no priest assigned there. La Piedra was adopted by Santisimo Sacramento when a large number of poorer than usual people were discovered to live there. St. Monica sponsors 24 families. Santisimo lends La Piedra a cathechist to help people prepare for sacraments.

So, during his homily, Fr. Joe asked, “Who will come?” I think he was talking to everyone in the room, parishioners and missionaries. I sure heard the call and have been haunted by it since.

When I got home Sunday, at Mass I was more disturbed when I heard the song “Hear I Am, Lord.” Its refrain being, “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people (gente) in my heart.”

So, I ask you readers: Who will come?

We're Back

The St. Monica mission team made it back home Sunday afternoon, very tired, but very happy.

Thanks for your prayers!