Midwest Provincial Fr Tony Pizzo attended the annual Assembly of the Vicariate of San Juan de Sahagún de Chulucanas from 8-14 January.
The meeting in Trujillo, Peru, provided the opportunity to witness and discuss the current state of play of the communities of friars and the various apostolic works that are being carried out from the vicariate. It also offered the chance to hear and evaluate various updates and so assess the leadership changes that have been implemented in the Vicariate of San Juan de Sahagún de Chulucanas.
Accompanied at all times by the regional vicar, Fr Ramiro Castillo, and by Bishop Lizardo Estrada OSA, auxiliary bishop of Cuzco and secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council, this affable gathering of the friars of Chulucanas was a fantastic opportunity to see how the synodal spirit is permeating the Order of St Augustine, as highlighted by Bishop Estrada in his opening speech.
Support for our educational work after the floods in Pacasmayo
After the assembly, Fr Pizzo made time to visit the community of Pacasmayo, hit in recent weeks by torrential floods that damaged the main building of the Colegio El Señor de los Milagros, in the process ruining the recently inaugurated computer lab. As reported in the most recent bulletin of the friars of the Midwest Augustinians, the Provincial made a contribution to cover the costs of this setback.
Fr Tony concluded his stay in Peru by visiting the Vicariate of Iquitos, in particular the parish of Santo Cristo de Bagazan, to honour the memory of the late Carl Aducci, a former student of Mendel College (class of '59). A lay Augustinian, Carl was committed to social work and evangelization in the area, and for decades, as Fr Pizzo poignantly recalled during his funeral Mass last December, cheerfully and willingly dedicated himself to maintaining the parish food program that provides for many local residents.
