Accompaniment: Peru

Andean Union Assembly-Lima (January 7-10). The Assembly was held in Lima, with eighteen participants, all from Peru. During the assembly, one session focused on gathering input about the Encyclical Dilexit Nos from a Sacred Heart brother. We enjoyed a social night with the sisters at the provincial house, along with the MSC sisters. The assembly concluded on Friday with a consultation process regarding the leadership of the union.

Trujillo (January 10-12). I continued my accompaniment to Trujillo. It’s about a 50-minute flight from Lima. Four MSC confreres are working here: Joselito, Ruben, Paulino, and Eusebio. They work in the parish of San Pablo and the retreat house, Katilandia. It also serves as an aspirancy, but at the moment, it is empty as there are no formandi. I had the opportunity to concelebrate Mass in the parish and in one of the chapels there, Nostra Señora del Sagrado Corazón. After Mass, I had the chance to meet the lay Chevalier family. They shared their life experiences and ministries in the parish. Hearing how they tried to get involved in the parish’s ministry is heartening.

Annual Retreat Casa di Ritiro Siloe-Lima (January 13-17). We facilitated the retreat with the theme of MSC Life. During the sharing time, they expressed gratitude for this retreat. It provided them with an opportunity to reflect on their identity as MSC. Through various sharing experiences during the retreat, we got to know their community better.

On this occasion, I spoke with the formators and formandi about their life in the formation house and the Emmaus document. The formators appreciate the Emmaus document, which focuses on the MSC’s primary identity as a religious community. They are in the process of implementing the Emmaus document both as formators and as MSC members. The Emmaus document provides clear guidelines on the responsibilities of formators. They recognise that personal accompaniment is essential in formation and strive to be diligent in making it a fundamental part of the process. There is a need for the congregation to provide materials that enhance the skills of formators in their ministry of formation.

Acari (January 18-20). We went to Acari the day after the retreat. After about twelve hours, we arrived in Acari from Lima by car. The MSC community in Acari consists of three confreres: Raul, Dario, and Omer. Their base is in the parish of Santiago Apostotol. They also work in the school and the olive farm. We were grateful for the chance to meet the lay Chevalier family there. They actively assist with the pastoral care of the MSC in the parish. Another interesting aspect we encountered was the presence of volunteers from Germany. According to Dario, each year, a volunteer from Germany comes to help and engage with the people in Acari. They choose which area of ministry to serve in, and most of the work focuses on education.

Bram Tulusan, MSC