In 1998, Fr. Joe Uhen, pastor of Santisimo Sacramento in Piura, Peru came to visit St. Anthony on the Lake as a missionary priest. What transpired after that visit is a successful twinning parish relationship unlike any other in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
This video tells the story of how we are making a difference in Santisimo Sacramento.
In January, 1999, 11 members of St. Anthony’s visited Peru to see what we as a parish could to do help the over 40,000 members of Padre Joe’s parish. We were blessed to find it a community of faith filled, beautiful people who dwell in homes consisting of dirt floors, bamboo walls, tin roofs, with no running water or electricity. From that fact finding mission, evolved our current Family to Family Program where families from St. Anthony’s sponsor families in Peru donating $25 per month to supply the Peru family with rice, beans, powdered milk, vegetable oil and various other sundries. To date St. Anthony’s sponsors over 350 families in Piura.
Subsequent annual visits have included 210 St. Anthony parishioners who’ve made the pilgrimage, many having traveled more than once.
In September each year, Padre Joe Uhen, comes to St. Anthony’s to visit along with two to three of his staff members. While here, Fr. Joe celebrates at each of our weekend masses and gives us an update on his parish, Santisimo Sacramento. Each of his staff members also speak to our parish thru Fr. Joe’s interpretation and tell of the many thanks that their people send to all of us at St. Anthony’s.
Learn more about our Sister Parish:
Please contact Maureen Michaels at [email protected] or (262) 691-9170 X1101 for information on how to support our sister parish or visit our online giving opportunity through WeShare.