Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese REPORT
9 Feb 2012
9 Feb 2012
Juan Perez is given financial support by
Catholic Mission of Australia to continue his studies
to become a priest
The generosity of Australians and their donations to the Catholic Mission has made it possible for a young Peruvian to study for the priesthood.
But financial support for this future priest in the Amazonian rainforest jungles of Peru is not the only Australian connection.
For the past 20 years Juan Perez' parish priest in the city of Iquitos, Peru has been Father John Andersen from the Archdiocese of Sydney.
Fr Andersen, who is better known as Padre Juan by the 3000-plus parishioners to whom he ministers as part of Iquitos' parish of Santa Rosa baptised the young man when he was a baby and has known his family and been part of their lives ever since.
"With only 24 priests in the vast Iquitos Vicariate, there is a great need for more good men like Juan," says Fr Andersen.
Currently back in Australia to spend a few weeks visiting his 96-year-old father as well as his brother and sisters and large extended family, Fr Andersen remains a diocesan priest and is in Peru as a missionary priest with the full support and blessing of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.
Initially when Fr Andersen was first given permission by Cardinal James Freeman, the then Archbishop of Sydney, to work as an associate priest with the Columban Fathers of Peru, he thought he would return to Australia within six years and resume his work as a diocesan priest.
Fr Andersen baptised Juan Perez as
a baby and has known the Peruvian
seminarian throughout his young life
That was 30 years ago and thanks to the encouragement and support of successive Archbishops of Sydney and generosity of members of the Sydney Archdiocese, bringing the message of God's love to the people of Peru, most of whom are poor and lead hard lives, has become his life's work.
"Catholic Mission is helping support the Vicariate of Iquitos through its works with communities, Church leaders and children," says Martin Tuelan, National Director of Catholic Mission. "With input from Fr Andersen, supporters of Catholic Mission are assisting in the growth of faith throughout the region with the training of priests and catechists, and in particular young men such as Juan Perez."
Juan and his fellow seminarians at the Iquitos St Augustine Seminary benefit from the financial support given to them by Australia's Catholic Mission, enabling them to continue with their priestly studies in a region where the average wage for many is just $700 per year.
Fr Andersen recalls baptising Juan when the Perez family brought him to the Church of Santa Rosa, and again later when Juan became one of his altar servers.
Peruvian seminarian with Sydney diocesan priest,
Father John Andersen
"Each Saturday evening he would be part of a group of young people who would meet at the church to pray and reflect on the reading for Sunday Mass," he remembers, impressed with the teenager's faith, piety and his often profound and insightful reflections on the scriptures.
At 14, Juan told his mentor, friend and family priest Fr Andersen that he was considering a vocation to the priesthood. Then after two years of discernment, he entered St Augustine's Seminary.
"The people who live on the river and its tributaries may see a priest only a few times a year and they need pastoral and spiritual sustenance," says Martin Tuelan and expresses his gratitude to Catholic Mission's supporters which has enabled the Mission to join in this important cause of training priests and bringing God's kingdom on earth to the people of Iquitos.
To donate to Catholic Mission in Australia to support the work of priests worldwide, and in particular the mission in Peru where Sydney Archdiocesan priest, Fr Andersen is mentoring, encouraging and helping a new generation of young men become tomorrow's priests and messengers of God log on to www.catholicmission.org.au
Comments