Five lay missionaries to spend a year in Peru

Five lay missionaries have left for Peru to work for a year with the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP) after 10 months of preparation.

They will be working in two of the poor parishes run by the MSSP in Arequipa.

Mark Cassar, Monique Mallia, Alexia Pisani, Mark Psaila and Sarah Spiteri Staines will be staying in the parish of Acequia Alta, run by Fr Frank Cortis, in a complex called Aldea Sagrada Familia. Here, three of the lay missionaries will be working and assisting in the care of around 60 children residing in an orphanage which is part of the complex.

Besides the orphanage, many other children attend a day centre and a small special school for children with disabilities. Besides looking after the children, the lay missionaries will teach basic English, computer skills and help out in running of the complex.

The other two lay missionaries will be working in the parish of Enace which is run by Fr Alex Busuttil. They will work in a medical clinic, assist in public kitchens, organise art courses, mothers' clubs, visit families, the elderly and people with disability and assist in other projects.

At present there are three other lay missionaries who are working in the same parishes. Maris Camilleri has been in Peru since February 2003 and is working in a clinic in Enace. Mark and Anita Zerafa will be soon returning to Malta after a year working with the children in Acequia Alta.

The Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja, known also as CAM, assists in the preparation of people who are interested in working as lay missionaries in Peru for a year. For further information, contact Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja on 2144 6435, send an e-mail to info@cam.com.mt or visit www.cam.com.mt