Support for the Daughters of Mary in Paraguay
ACN supports religious sisters all over the world. This includes the Daughters of Mary in their ministry to isolated Catholic communities in northern Paraguay.
By ACN Staff
The community in Puerto Casado. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
The “Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians” belong to the religious family of the Salesians of Don Bosco and are devoted in particular to the education of young people. 12 sisters of this community currently live and work in the Apostolic Vicariate of Chaco in the far north of Paraguay. In fact they not only care for the young people here but also support the families, visiting the sick and the elderly, bringing them communion, giving catechetical instruction and supporting the poor and disadvantaged with practical help and advice.
Sr. Evangelista Florentin with school children. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
This is a vast region, covering around 37,000 square miles (96,000 km²), similar in size to South Korea or a little larger than Hungary, yet at the same time only sparsely populated, with just 30,000 inhabitants. The roads are very poor, and many places can only be reached by water. These include the two remote and isolated communities under the care of Sister Blanca. The people in them belong to 2 different indigenous tribes, and in order to reach them Sister Blanca has to make a journey of 2 ½ hours along the Paraguay River.
The other sisters also work in the town of Puerto Casado, where they care in particular for the members of the indigenous Maskoy people. “The grace of God has always accompanied the sisters of our community, since they are instruments of the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the marginalised peoples of Puerto Casado and the Maskoy Indians – an impoverished ethnic group which is continuing to develop, thanks to the support of the Salesian brothers and sisters”, explains Sister Marciana Toledo Vergara, the Superior of the community.
Sister Emilia works in five different indigenous communities, preparing the children for their First Holy Communion, caring for the sick and supporting the local teachers. She also supports the students of the Maskoy people and generally helps the indigenous peoples in their daily struggle for survival. Meanwhile, Sister Justa works together with some of the committed laywomen of the parish, visiting the various suburbs of Puerto Casado. Sister Irene organises catechetical sessions and leisure activities for the children and young people and also guides a young people‘s group in the parish, helping to organise the liturgy and working to help the most needy.
In Ñu Apu´a the sisters have established a boarding school for 110 children whose families live too far from the nearest school. In this way these children also have a chance to gain a proper school education.
These are just a few examples of the outstanding work the sisters are doing. They offer their service selflessly and for no reward, and so we in turn would like to support them for the current year with basic subsistence aid of €4,900. Would you also like to help?