MISSIONARY CONNECTIONS

In Peru, Canadian missioners, past and present, are connected in their common goal of working with the poor

By Carolyn Beukeboom
October 2002

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Walking the streets of the Zana Valley in northern Peru gives one a sense of an immediate welcoming. People stand in the doorways of their homes, and as you pass by you are warmly greeted with a smile and "Buenos Dias".

They are eager to chat and when they learn that you are from London, Ontario, in Canada, their friendliness becomes even more sincere. They fondly remember the Sisters of St. Joseph from London, and the many priests of the London Diocese who served in this area for many years.

Not far from this town, about an hour's drive away, is the city of Chiclayo where both Scarboro priest and lay missioners worked. It does not take long to learn that many of these priests, Sisters and lay missioners from the different congregations have ties with one another.

Before becoming a Scarboro lay missioner, I had the opportunity to travel to Zana and Chiclayo to participate in the Heart-Links Work/Awareness trip. Heart-Links is an organization begun by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1994 through the efforts of Sr. Janet Zadorsky. The organization was started when they withdrew from Peru after serving there for 32 years.

Each year a group of people from various ages and backgrounds spend three weeks in the Zana Valley becoming acquainted with the Peruvians and learning about the realities in which the people live. The goal is to continue to support development projects and to maintain the bonds of friendships between Peruvians and Canadians.

For the Peruvians, each visit is a time of renewal with Sisters and priests who return with the group. Many have served in this area before and were a part of the people's lives for several years. Through Heart-Links, Peruvians find encouragement and hope as they enthusiastically share their work and lives with Canadians.

After my trip to Peru in 1999, I joined Scarboro Missions and went to Riobamba, Ecuador, where I work as a nurse in a small hospital. This year Heart-Links invited me to participate once again in their trip to Peru. They asked me to assist as a translator for the team and to check out a new health clinic supported by Heart-Links.

My return visit to this area took on a whole new meaning, as this time I could speak Spanish and was able to talk with the Peruvians on a much more profound level. I took the bus from Riobamba to Chiclayo and spent the night with a friend, Gladys Fernandez, whom I had met on my previous visit. Gladys had worked very closely with Scarboro missioners when they served in this region. She spoke very highly of those she knew and told me many stories about them.

Last November Scarboro missioner Fr. Hugh MacDougall died in a very unfortunate accident while serving in Cuba. Fr. Hugh had worked for many years in Chiclayo. When the people there learned of his death, they held a memorial service for him. Gladys told me the church was packed as people shared stories of a man who had touched their lives in many ways and was certainly not forgotten.

Although I never knew this priest, I was moved by the stories and proud to say I was a Scarboro missioner as well. Through the various people that I chatted with during my time in Chiclayo, it was evident that all the Scarboro people who had worked in this area had certainly made an impact.

As a participant of this year's Heart-Links group I was able to meet Sr. Kitty Stafford of the Sisters of St Joseph. She had lived many years in the Zana Valley, and had worked closely with Scarboro missioners in Canada, in the formation program for new lay members.

Since coming home to London for a short leave before heading back to Ecuador, I have been chatting with my parish priest Fr. Tom Lever who spent many years in Peru. He shared his memories of working with Scarboro Fathers Frank Hegel and Hugh MacDougall.

This trip back to Peru made me realize how small the missionary world can be. There are many connections that bring people together for the common goal of working to help the poor. It is also amazing that I grew up in London, Ontario, a city that has many bonds with the northern communities of Peru. I pray that these bonds will continue to link us together and help us to work for peace and justice in this world.

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