Mission In Mache, Peru

Mache is one of the ten districts in the Province of Otuzco in the La Libertad Region in Peru. It is perched 3,256m (11,000ft approx.) up in the Northern Andes under the towering summit of Miramar looking down on the sloping valleys. When Sisters Immaculata Murphy, Dora Castro and María Juárez (now left the Congregation) first came here in 1994 to start a new mission the journey from Trujillo took eight hours. Since then the roads have improved somewhat because of the mining interests in Agallpampa. Now the 100 km journey from Trujillo can be done in three hours. An asphalt road, rising all the time, goes as far as Otuzco and then an hour’s journey on a track, still rising, takes you into the very heart of the Andes to the little town of Mache.

Mache comes from a Quechan Word meaning sweet, pleasant, pleasing, ripe, well-seasoned.

Mache and surrounding countryside

To see a video on Mache, please click here

The Sisters have been very much part of life in Mache during the past eighteen years forming pastoral and catechetical groups in the numerous village communities – Quinigón, Los Angeles, Cruz de Mayo etc. Up to 2007 a priest from Julcán used visit Mache a few times a year to celebrate Mass. Since 2008, the Sisters belong to the Vicaria de la Sierra which has its headquarters in Otuzco, famous for the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Door. Each year during the second week in December pilgrims of all ages walk the 73 kms from Trujillo climbing 2,641m (8,665ft) to celebrate the festival of Virgen de la Puerta which ends on 15^th December.

The overall objective of the PPVS (Vicariat of the Sierras) is to promote and form Christian communities where the members

reflect on the Word of God and the documents of the Church,
pray
are missionaries in their actions and attitudes,
are committed to social justice and to the transformation of the reality in which they live.

As a Vicariate we have some activities together on an annual basis e.g. the Catholic Expo and the Youth Olympics. Mache now forms part of another parish, San Luis Gonzaga of Agallpampa.

The Pastoral Centre “Christ the King” in Mache and the parishes of the Vicaria de la Sierra have as their motto for this year “I am the Church in my zone.”

As Sisters of Mercy we commit ourselves to implement the Pastoral Proposals of the Latin American Church and the Congregation in collaboration with networks that are committed to integral human development and environmental education and care.

Two Sisters currently work in Mache – Cáit Wims in the parish and Angelica González Haro in Colegio Simon Bolivar. Angelica is also involved in the Youth Pastoral Council and in Adult Education for parents and retired. She also organises formation days for students, teachers and administrative personnel. Every two months we have meetings with pastoral workers, priests, religious sisters for retreats on Prayer with the Pastoral Leaders and the Youth Leaders of the Pastoral Centre “Cristo Rey”, Mache.

The retreat “Lord, teach us how to pray” was directed by Sr. Aurea Roldan Santiago who travelled from Trujillo for the event.

Aurea has recently published a book “Influencia del taller creciendo para equilibrar tu vida” Editorial Académica Española (2012-10-12)

Celebration of Earth Day:

The theme was: “Earth, Fertile Mother, Fragile Mother, let’s take care of her.”

All the Education Centres, the Health Centre and the Pastoral Centre gathered in the Main Square in Mache. The opening prayer was led by the co-ordinator of the Pastoral Centre, Elmida Rodriguez. The Civil, Health and Education Institutions participated with poems, dances and banners reflecting the theme. The celebration ended with a parade through the principal streets of the town.

WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

A number of workshops are conducted as part of the holistic education of young people and these are made possible through support from the Solidarity Fund of the Southern Province. Students from 1st to 3rd grades take part. They come from Mache itself and the surrounding mountain hamlets.

Handicraft Workshops

Volleyball Workshops

Dance Workshops

These are students arriving at the Pastoral Centre after collecting tins, glass and plastics. The Pastoral Centre is the collecting point for all recyclables and also it is here that the tins, plastics etc. are crushed and taken to Trujillo where they are sold.

Recycling Workshop in Campo Bello