Two weeks ago, after 10 months of preparation, five lay missionaries left Malta for Peru to work for a year with the Fathers of the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP).

After arriving in Lima, the capital city of Peru they spent a few days in the MSSP Formation House, after which they boarded the last plane to go to Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. In Arequipa they will be working primarily in two of the poor parishes run by the MSSP Fathers.

Mark Cassar, Monique Mallia, Alexia Pisani, Mark Psaila and Sarah Spiteri Staines will be staying in the parish of Acequia Alta in a complex called Aldea Sagrada Familia run by Fr Frank Cortis. Three of them will work here and help take care of around 60 children residing in the 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 also be teaching basic English, computer and will help in running of the complex.

The other two lay missionaries will be working in a medical clinic in the parish of Enace run by Fr Alex Busuttil, as well as help out in public kitchens, organise art courses, mothers’ clubs, visiting families, the elderly and people with disabilities and assist in other projects as necessary.

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

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, please contact Centru Animazzjoni Missjunarja on 2144 6435, send an e-mail to [email protected] or visit the website: www.cam.com.mt