How did you learn about your faith?

Most likely, your parents were the first to teach you about your Catholic faith. Through a family catechetics program, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Tambogrande, Peru are working with parents to pass the Catholic faith on to their children.

Every week, the Sisters travel many miles – by truck, by motor taxi, sometimes on the river – to go over the lessons with local program organizers. Participants also come regularly to Tambogrande to receive religious education materials and courses in the faith.

Sr. Meg Walsh in Peru.

In addition to this ministry of catechesis, each Sister is engaged in another full-time ministry. Sister Juana is a nurse at the local hospital and runs a house of hospitality for women with high-risk pregnancies. Sister Marleny is the principal of a secondary school for girls and boys in the countryside.   Sister Patricia Shanahan is involved with special education and operates a center for children with physical disabilities. Sister Meg Walsh supports the pastoral minister and offers English class to adults.

Sr. Marie-Laure Bentz, Peru.

To anyone accustomed to taking hot showers daily and using dishwashers and washing machines, the tasks of everyday living can seem like a full-time job. Most people living in Tambogrande must purify the water before drinking or cooking with it. Some have to retrieve it from the river first. They wash their clothes by hand. They cannot depend on government programs if they lose their jobs – which can be hard to obtain even for those who are well-educated.

In addition to what Sisters of Notre Dame do – perhaps more important than what we do – we are present with people in the midst of this struggle for life. We invite you to share in our ministry of prayer, presence, and action.