Lima, Peru, Feb 22, 2007 / 09:58 am
The “Great Mission” to the Peruvian province of Carabaya ended this week, with more than 140 missionaries participating under the guidance of Bishop Kay Schmalhausen of Ayaviri and more than 1000 people receiving the Sacrament of Baptism.
During the Mass closing the three-week long mission, Bishop Schmalhausen thanked the missionaries for their generous service and invited residents of the area to assume the reins and “become catechists and missionaries in your own neighborhoods, towns, and communities, as there are still many who desire to know Christ but have not yet encountered somebody to opportunely proclaim Him.”
The 140 missionaries, mostly young people from the movement Lumen Dei, came from Lima, Arequipa, Cuzco, and Tacna. They visited towns in the Peruvian Andes during the most of February.
The mission also provided local residents the chance to go to confession, receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and allowed many couples to begin marriage preparation.
The Provincial Superior of Lumen Die, Father Emilio Acebedo, and other priests of the movement also participated in the final Mass.