Sisters of St Joseph Awarded

Order of Merit for Distinguished Work in Peru

The Consulate General in Australia, Mr Jaime Burgos, awarded the Sisters of St Joseph, the Order of Merit for Distinguished service in Peru for the last 25 years. On behalf of the Peruvian Government, Mr Burgos said that the award was an acknowledgment of oustanding social work in the areas of Lima, Pitumarca and Tarma.

Sr Anne Derwin, Congregation Leader of the Sisters of St Joseph thanked all the Srs who had worked in Peru, the many volunteers and supporters of the Sisters and those who had given donations of time and money to the project. She also thanked the Peruvian women and men who worked with and for the Sisters.

Background Story

April the 1st 1981,  a community of Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart touched down at Lima Airport to learn that they were illegal immigrants.  Thus began the process of finding one’s way in a new culture going forward armed with a year’s preparation at the Columban’s Pacific Mission Institute – but no Spanish.  They were Edith Prince, Dorothy Stevenson, Ursula Hoile and Elaine Walker, each from a different province of the Congregation.

Elaine, Edith, Dorothy and Ursula

After language school the foursome took up residence in a rented apartment with no water and clandestine lighting which made a joke of the instant-hot-water-shower on both counts.  It was the 8th of August.  This was home for three years in the enormous northern cone parish of Columban Associate, Leo Grant from Australia.  The portion where the Josephites ministered had two Mass centres, one of which consisted of some assembled bricks and the other a school or under the sky, depending on the sentiments of the authorities on a given Sunday.  The number of Mass centres grew to between 20 and 30 and the area became a separate parish, and later still was itself divided again when the whole area became a diocese..  Invasions over the years, of people desperate for a place of their own, filled all empty spaces around and beyond us.

The first stage of the invasion    

                 Slightly better housing

                                                   They are very proud of their new houses

A formation Programme began in 2001 for Peruvian candidates.  In view of the language difference noviciate in Australia was not practical.  A considerable number of young women have spent time – little or a lot – discerning a possible call to our way of life.  At this time there are two professed Peruvians, one of perpetual vows and the other just starting her time of temporary profession.

Roxana  Apaza Ccallo                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                               María Cecila Paiva Huaringa with a pupil  

Now in 2009 Josephites are in a several locations.  On the outskirts of Lima where the surrounding bare hills are being literally carved into home sites, rude at first but gradually shaping into a humble home over the years, there are three sisters at Cruz de Motupe. 

One of the many settled hillsides of Motupe

Away to the north in Pucallpa a Josephite is ministering in the rain forest testing whether a small group might establish a permanent mission base.

Marj Crossman spending time with members of the local community

For 15 years another Sister toiled away, on her own mostly, in a rural town in the department of Cucso: Pitumarca of Sicuani.  Another Josephite joined her in more recent years and they have worked hard in the last while to leave a flourishing ministry to the Sisters of another Congregation: promoting the sale of the lovely things the women can make of the alpaca wool, native to Peru; also in developing a community-caring spirit for the elderly and the sick.

Anela Carrol (right) accompanying a family group in Pitumarca

Tarma, in the Central Andes in the department of Junin is another place of ministry.  The Sisters established themselves there at the invitation of the Bishop, who asked when they were coming back to the diocese. 

Dorothy Stevenson supports production of beautiful handcrafts for export..                                               

                                                         Patricia is a vital presence in the

                                                         Fe and Alegria School - even in the

                                                                         working bees                                                                                          

Tarma is the province in which Huasahuasi is a district and where Irene McCormack lost her life at the hands of the terrorists in 1991.  Two Sisters went to Huasahuasi in 1987 it being the first opening outside of Lima.

The Josephite’s ministry in Peru had been with migrant peoples among whom there have been numbers with earnest desires to have their own chapel and Mass and to establish the special patrons and fiestas of their rural origins.  The Sisters have accompanied them, helping to form these new Christian communities and establish the different ministries that enable the group to realize their ambition to have and be church in their new surroundings.

In other settings Sisters work with and among people, especially women and also prisoners.  The predominant concern is to be a friendly presence among those who are on the margins of both church and civil society, encouraging belief in themselves and helping them to achieve small goals, working together in trust and friendship.  This has always included many initiatives depending on the local needs.

In the early months of 2009 the Josephite Peru mission became a Region of the Congregation with its own local government.  The twelve Sisters in Peru and the two in Brazil together look forward to whatever the Holy Spirit has in mind and are ready to dialogue together and with the rest of the Congregation in discerning their part in the Divine Mission in South America.

The Sisters currently working in this Region are Angela Carroll, Marj Crossman , Margaret Malady, Clare Conaglen, Cathy Dean, Patricia Day, Dorothy Stevenson, Frances Maguire, Mary Dwyer, Roxanna Apaza Ccallo, María Cecilia Paiva Huaringa, and Geraldine Stringer.

The Josephites in Peru March 2008

Our foundation was possible only because of the support of the people who worked with us. As together we developed food kitchens, health groups, etc, they taught us about the culture and the people, and we came to understand how to establish groups that could develop their own leadership and structure.

We shared with them the story of Mary MacKillop and many found they felt at home with her vision and values. Nowadays we are supported by a large number of dedicated Josephite Associates who share our charism and ministry.

Associates and Sisters gathered at the Conclusion of the Chapter, July 2007