From left: Providence Associate Carmen Alomia, Sister Gayle Desarmia and Sister Sara Jiménez.
BY SISTER GAYLE DESARMIA, SP
Photos courtesy of Sister Gayle Desarmia
From November 17 until December 11, 2024, I had the privilege of visiting Sister Sara Jiménez and the Peruvian Associates in Carabayllo, Peru. During my time there I was able to accompany Sara to a number of events.
One afternoon we attended the First Communion of Massiel, Providence Associate Carmen Alomia’s granddaughter, and that same evening we attended a Mass for Gustavo Gutiérrez, a Peruvian philosopher and Liberation theologian beloved of the Peruvian people, who passed away in October. Both events took place in Pueblo Libre. Another evening, we attended a Mass in Raoul Porras Barrenechea with Bishop Neri at Cristo Salvador del Mundo Church. The parish had a new altar, tabernacle, ambo and a new statue of Christ Saviour of the World.
During the visit we attended the meetings of two nearby groups of the Christian Workers Movement. The first meeting was held in Villa Esperanza on November 20 and the second was held in Raoul Porras Barrenechea on December 7, 2024. The second meeting was the group’s Christmas celebration and featured a Peruvian favourite, hot chocolate and panettone for all.
We had several visitors to the house during my time there. Of special interest were the Providence Associates who teach at the secondary school close to Cristo Luz del Mundo Church. The group consisted of Carmen Alomia who teaches Communication, Oliva Erazo who teaches English, Isabel Trujillo who teaches Mathematics and Marcela Esperanza who teaches Religion. Also present was Fernanda Ramirez who is enjoying her first year of retirement after a career of teaching elementary school.
For a few years now, we have visited the soup kitchen that is located further up our hill in El Progreso. Each day at noon there are about a dozen members of families that come to receive a container of food to bring to their homes. Each December Sara buys individual panettone from the Sisters of Charity for distribution to the families that use the soup kitchen.
Each day during the week of November 25 the Providence Associates reflected virtually on the Vincentian virtues and on the final evening Father Tito Romero Vargas, a Vincentian priest, gave a presentation on Pope Francis’ new encyclical. He concluded with the Pope’s reference to St. Vincent de Paul. These days of reflection were in preparation for the renewal of their promises on the following Sunday. I think that the Associates who participated in the week were very appreciative.
In addition to having time to share community information, Sara and I met with Carmen Alomia, the Coordinator of the Providence Associates in Peru. I presented them with a PowerPoint presentation featuring our new museum that will be shared with the Associates at a future meeting. As the Associates move into 2025, they will consider preparing a five-year plan that will guide them forward.
During my stay, I accompanied Sara and participated in the annual two-day assembly of the Conference of Religious of Peru that was held at Confer in Pueblo Libre. Then on Saturday, December 7, Sara and I went to a convent situated on the Pacific coast in Ancon for the Christmas gathering of the religious in the diocese of Carabayllo. After the prayer and business part of the meeting there was a gift exchange among those present. The gathering closed with Mass in the convent chapel and a lovely meal. Of special interest to me was the image of Christ in the convent chapel. It had been fashioned by an artist living in the jungle.
Providence Associates and Sister Sara after the renewal ceremony.
A highlight of my visit was the opportunity to be present at the ceremony in which the Associates renewed their promises and Sister Sara renewed her vows. Sunday, December 1, 2024, the day of the ceremony, most Associates attended 9:00 am Mass at Cristo Luz del Mundo Church. Afterwards we gathered in the patio at our house. Everything had been prepared the previous evening and placed in readiness in the patio before the Mass. The ceremony opened with prayer. Following this the Associates renewed their promises and Sara renewed her vows. Then came the time for photos and a shared meal of chicken with rice. It was a lovely time of sharing. Many Associates asked about the Sisters whom they had met in previous years.
Although there are similar elements in each of my annual visits to Peru, each is unique. While Sara and I felt safe in our activities, this year because of the violence touching the lives of ordinary citizens, there is a prevalent atmosphere of citizen insecurity in the barrios in the Lima region. Please keep these people in prayer as we journey through 2025.