It is very difficult to work in a new parish where there is no electricity in most of the places, no bank, no post and no church or a house to live in.

It is the parish I now take care of – Santa Rosa in the Selva of Ayacucho in Peru. I have only been there five months and already have the foundations of the church in place. I also put another “foundation” – that of placing two religious teachers in the primary schools to teach 1,100 children.

This area has been through the worst of terrorism. Now it is not that bad but I have parishioners who have witnessed the execution of their dear ones in the centre of the square. I have a whole section of widows who live in huts because they lost their husbands to the terrorists. The people only had religious contact once a year when a priest goes through to celebrate the feast of Santa Rosa De Lima on 30 August.

I baptised 116 kids this year. Now I am preparing a group of Catechists and next year at least they will be prepared. This all costs money and through your generosity we, missionaries can keep on helping these people.

I would like to thank the Mission Fund for donating the nice sum of e1,200 which will go a long way. The Mission Fund has a very interesting web page which you all must see www.missionfund.org.mt There you will b able to learn of their great work and also come t o know of the Maltese Missionaries around the world. Giving used stamps and telecards and money to the Mission Fund would be giving a donation to so many Missionaries and not to just one.

May God Bless you

Fr Anthony Zammit

Peru