This Jubilee Year is an important time for our Church and for the Springfield Dominican Sisters. We are celebrating 25 years of our presence in the Parish of St. John the Baptist in Jarpa and 60 years in Peru. What a great event! We celebrate with our sisters who have experienced the rich fragrance of the highlands during their service in Alto Cunas, the highest part of the region where the River Cunas flows.
What better sign of affection and great gratitude than in the words of our sisters, youth, and families to keep discovering our God of Life. Here are their testimonies:
Planting seeds
I am Maribel, a postulant with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, at this time on a mission experience in my beloved Alto Cunas. I am feeling and living the importance of taking the Word of God to different villages, to so many families who want to hear the message of God. During these 25 years our sisters have been in this beloved place, San Juan de Jarpa, they have been planting seeds to strengthen and give hope to each of our sacred lives.
The fruit of our sisters’ day-by-day hard work is shown in the courage, enthusiasm, dedication, responsibility, and love for all without marginalizing or discrimination. That’s why many families are close to them and value their great work.
The same as myself, there are many young people full of joy and hope to have the sisters by their side, sharing many of our daily experiences. We feel very thankful to our Lord for letting us know these valiant women.
Maribel Inés Uribe Baquerizo, is a postulant with the Springfield Dominican Sisters.
Accompaniment
As a Springfield Dominican, serving at this time in Jarpa, I find hope in our Church when I share with the children, youth, women, parents and grandparents of the villages in their closeness, sharing affection in our day to day life.
We are part of the Archdiocese of Huancayo, walking together with organizations of the five vicariates in joint projects with the priests of our archdiocese, guided by our Bishop, Luis Alberto Huamán, responding with our service, in charge of St. John the Baptist Parish.
This responsibility generates the need to accompany and be accompanied by God’s people, to participate in their every reality: joys, sadness, health problems, family violence, the youth looking for other opportunities. The words of gratitude from all of them give value to our accompaniment, giving us sisters a sense of having offered something to help people grow as persons. This is our hope. I thank God for this lovely experience in this time that helps me, too, to grow as a person and as a Dominican.
Hermana Edith Vila Alania, O.P.
Family!
The Dominican Sisters are a part of our community of San Juan de Jarpa. Thanks to their teachings about Christian living and their dedication to the children and youth, we feel a lot of affection for them, as if they were family. They are with us in the best and the worst times of our life, and we are accustomed to be beside them, bringing the Word of God. They are like second mothers to us and we have great trust and love for them. Thanks to the support they give to our community, we can keep advancing together.
Jyosue Steven Salvatierra Antesano, 13, Animator for Child Missionaries
Light of hope
We the youth, accompanied by the sisters and always guided by God, are signs of hope for others because we reflect the energy and commitment needed to build a better world. Together we give creativity and values that inspire those around us. The sisters guide us with wisdom and faith. Their support and example strengthen our commitment and enthusiasm. Without them, nothing would be possible. Our example motivates others to not lose hope in the face of difficulties and to believe in positive change. That way we show that together we can transform reality and be a light of hope for all.
Yaquelyn Ninalaya, Coordinator of Youth Encounter in the Spirit (EJE)
Alliance of love
The sisters and the youth they accompany are living signs of hope, because with their joy, faith and giving, they light up a sometimes-dark world. Their sincere witness of God’s love inspires others to believe in a better future. The youth with their dreams and the sisters with their tenderness and wisdom form an alliance that reflects Christ’s love. They walk together sowing peace, serving with humility, and showing that it’s possible to live with purpose and faith. They are lights lit by God that guide others towards hope and full life.
Jheferson Salvatierra Antesano, 22 years old, member of the group EJE
Present and future
From a vision of equity, social justice, respect and empathy, the Dominican Sisters have listened and accompanied the youth of Jarpa, making them protagonists in evangelization within and without their community. Along the way they have formed pastoral leaders to walk with them, people sensitive to recognize and empathize with people’s needs. We firmly believe that seeing the youth, leading with love and self-giving, are the present and the future. They are becoming a significant example of hope for a world that needs positive role models to follow.
Paquita Gutiérrez and Enrique Ñaupari- “Paquita and Kike,” partner guides for the youth group EJE
Chosen by the Trinitarian God, we know that we can’t be selfish with the great love we have for life, that which we pour out in each of our missions with fidelity to the Gospel, overcoming the inhumane during this time of so much pain and death. We will continue, firm in our experience of Jesus the Nazarene, resurrected. “By their fruits they will be known.” (Luke 6:44)
