You walked with us awhile

A new book about the Latin American Mission Program

September 2005

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The following was adapted from material submitted by the Latin American Mission Program

Photo credit: The Guardian, Charlottetown, PEI
Fr. Andrew Macdonald, first LAMP missionary; Irene Burge, compiler of the book on LAMP: “You walked with us awhile”, and Cathy Ronahan, chair of LAMP.

The Latin American Mission Program (LAMP) of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is pleased to announce the publication of the history of its activities of the past 36 years. The title of the book, “You Walked With Us Awhile”, is part of a message that campesinos (peasant farmers) in the Dominican Republic expressed to Fr. Vincent Murnaghan, one of the early missionaries, as he was completing his term there.

One of the first decisions made by the diocese when LAMP was established in 1968, was to work in the Dominican Republic. Too small to set up its own missionary program, the diocese deemed it important to join an already existing program. Since Scarboro Missions was established in the Dominican Republic, a proposal was made to them and approved. A formal agreement between the diocese, through the bishop, and Scarboro Missions was drawn up. This collaboration continued until the early 80s when the number of Scarboro members in the Dominican Republic decreased.

“You Walked With Us Awhile” documents the history of LAMP, a unique program in the Catholic Church of Prince Edward Island (PEI), and a unique program for the whole Island community. The program has had a long-term experience of intercultural relationships between PEI and specific countries of Latin America. LAMP wants to share this experience with the people of Prince Edward Island.

The LAMP missionaries, men and women who have gone to Latin America and the Caribbean, engaged in various work. Central to their wide variety of experiences was the joy of being introduced to a new and lasting dimension of faith.

A Dominican friend of LAMP said, “I consider LAMP to be an integral part of the Dominican Church by the way they associate with the poor. LAMP missionaries established binding ties between the two islands.”

The book includes the events that inspired the establishment of LAMP in 1968; a section on the spirit of LAMP and its structure; and the philosophy and orientation of LAMP regarding North Americans working in developing countries. A major part of the book deals with individual stories of the Islanders sent by LAMP for three-to-five year terms to serve in the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Nicaragua. The book also includes the experience of others whom LAMP supported for short-term work in Latin America. A highlight of this short-term experience is the Faith and Justice program for youth. There is also a summary of educational programs that LAMP organized annually in PEI to promote a society based on social justice. Briefs and other public presentations on behalf of the poor in our country are reported, as well as the results of several evaluations of LAMP’s work.

The LAMP committee has 18 members who meet on a regular basis and are actively engaged in activities that promote social justice in a faith context. This missionary group includes a wide range of Islanders, clergy and lay people. The experience of the missionaries has motivated them to use a justice model while continuing to work on social issues here at home.

“You Walked With Us Awhile” is attractive and easy-to-read. Copies are available at the Voluntary Resource Centre, 81 Prince Street, Charlottetown, PEI. Tel: 902-368-7180. The book costs $25 (postage extra), and cheques may be made out to “LAMP History Book”.

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