San Martin, Lima, Peru

Beginning in 1997, a small group of parishioners at Immaculate Conception together with the pastor, Fr. Richard Runte, formed a Mission Committee and began a relationship with a very large parish, Nuestra Señora de la Paz, Our Lady of Peace, in Villa El Salvador, a suburb of Lima, Peru.  The parish consisted of a main church with 5 satellite chapels.  Our assistance was to go to one of the chapels, San Martin.  It began as a mutual support prayer group and funds for their needs. Initially, the financial support was used to establish a fund as start-up money for people starting small businesses. That proved successful for several years. Then, the parishioners of our satellite chapel met with their pastor to request that our money be used to build a “real” church in which to worship. They were worshipping in a small roughly built hall, which was used for multiple purposes. 

The beautiful church, San Martin, that Immaculate Conception Parish helped build, is now a central parish with two satellite chapels. Our people in Peru decided to name the church —San Martin de la Caridad—Saint Martin of God’s Love—which is the name San Martin took in his religious life.  The new church dedication took place in August 2004, with a small group from Immaculate Conception in attendance participating in the celebrations and dedication of the new church. 

Since the completion of the church the people asked us to help in the construction of a building which houses a soup kitchen and classroom space for their youth’s religious instruction on the church property.  The poverty in much of Peru is unthinkable.  At the time of our commitment, unemployment was at 70% within our sister parish boundaries.  The soup kitchen provides a small contribution for the people of the area to combat hunger. 

We of the mission committee hope to instill in our parishioners here in Easthampton the true meaning of “Catholic.”  It means “all-inclusive, universal.”  We are “one in the Spirit.”   We in Easthampton are not removed from the needs of others in various parts of the world.  We are part of the one body of Christ in the world at large.