In Chile and Peru, the month of June was filled with prayer and celebration for our brothers and sisters in Christ who participate in parishes and ministries run by the Congregation of Holy Cross.
For Lord of Hope Parish in Canto Grande, Peru, the month of celebrations kicked off on June 6th, as members of the Yancana Huasy community held a celebration in honor of the anniversary of the Lord of Hope CEBE ( “Centro de Educación Básica Especial,” or “Center for Basic Special Education”), a classroom which serves students with varying levels of disabilities.
During the celebration, students and teachers filled the stage with life and color as they performed artistic acts in an event marked by joy, music, and various displays of talent. The entire educational community, including Yancana Huasy’s director, José Antonio Patrón, the director of CEBE, María Elena Benites, and Rev. John (Juan) Phalen, C.S.C., the chaplain for Yancana Huasy, attended the celebration.
The following day, the parish community gathered to honor the feast of the Church’s birth, Pentecost. To commemorate the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles gathered in the Upper Room, the parish offered various spiritually enriching activities throughout the day, including worship, music, the reading of Scripture, and a Pentecost Vigil Mass. These activities collectively worked both to foster a deeper sense of community and also to strengthen parishioner’s awareness of their call to be missionary disciples of Christ.
Parishioners had another extended opportunity to draw closer to the Lord through prayer later in the month, as they met from June 18th to 25th at the Latin American Martyrs Pastoral Center to pray a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the patron of the priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross. At the end of these nine days of prayer, a Mass was celebrated on Friday, June 27th, at the Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi. The Mass was presided over by Rev. Jim Gutierrez, C.S.C., with Rev. Aníbal Niño, C.S.C., giving the homily. Fr. Phalen, Rev. José Luis Tineo, C.S.C., and other Holy Cross brothers and sisters also participated in the celebration.
In the midst of the novena, the Vocation Ministry in Peru called the parishioners to a Holy Hour for Vocations, which took place at the Peyton Center on June 21st, and was attended by, among others, four vocational leaders and three C.S.C. priests: Fr. Gutierrez, Fr. Phalen, and Rev. John Benesh, C.S.C.
The following day, June 22nd, the San Oscar Romero Chapel was the scene of a highly anticipated event: the parish’s first Youth Mass. Serving as an opportunity to encourage the spiritual growth and active participation of the young, the Mass brought together many youth from the parish community, as well as catechumens, catechists, C.S.C. priests and brothers, and the Holy Cross Mission Center’s Assistant Director, Michael Jezewak. It was an experience filled with joy, faith, and commitment, as all were invited to deepen their relationship with God, and with each other.
Then, on June 23rd, a guided discussion led by a panel helped parishioners to deepen their missionary vocation, as the “Conversations for the Year of Mission” series kicked off in the Peyton Center (Centro Patricio Peyton). Fr. Phalen, Sister Marisol Mamani, C.S.C., and Mrs. Dolores Ocaña composed the panel, offering testimonies, teachings, and motivations.
In the neighboring country of Chile, an event was also put on to support the senior citizens of Andacollo Parish. In May, the parish continued its programming to support comprehensive well-being for senior citizens by hosting a “Small Steps” workshop in its reception room. During the workshop, participants shared experiences, completed hands-on activities, and reflected on how breaking problems down into smaller tasks generates a greater sense of hope and accomplishment. The parish’s senior programming aims to promote active aging by fostering physical, mental, social, and cognitive well-being. It also works to strengthen community ties and prevent isolation, promoting a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Throughout the following month of June, Andacollo Parish held events supporting catechists, confirmants, and vocations. On June 1st, during Sunday Mass, eight parish catechists (Isabel, Marta, Gloria, Alejandro, Alicia, Elsa, Nancy, and Daniel) publicly renewed their commitment to the mission of evangelization. The ceremony not only marked an act of personal and communal renewal but also a gesture of living hope in the formation of new generations in the faith. In his homily, Rev. Rómulo Vera, C.S.C., encouraged the community to accompany catechists with prayer and support as they seek to carry out the beautiful task of proclaiming the Gospel.
On Friday, June 6th, of that same week, San Roque Parish joyfully celebrated their successful catechesis, as 17 people were confirmed into the Church. Rev. Pedro Parra, C.S.C., and Rev. Joseph Owori, C.S.C., of Santa Cruz, joined Bishop Luis Migone who presided over the Mass in which the newly confirmed were encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith. The day was marked by hope, prayer, and the witness of a community that continues to grow in God’s love.
Published by the Holy Cross Mission Center
July 2025
