CLINTON — Prince of Peace Peru Task Force is planning its annual Peru Dinner on Sunday, Nov. 17, with hospitality at 4 p.m. and dinner at 4:30 p.m. at Tuscany Special Events Center at Rastrelli’s Restaurant.
In 2004, Prince of Peace Parish in Clinton became a sister parish with La Virgen Pura y Limpia (Virgin Most Pure) in Sapillica, Peru, where the Sisters of St. Francis of Clinton have been ministering since 1966. Only a mission church prior to 2004, La Virgen Pura y Limpia was officially commissioned as a parish in 2005, a part of the Diocese of Chulucanas.
Dinners held annually since 2006 have raised money to assist the sister parish of Sapillica to rebuild its church, repair a bridge destroyed by flooding, repair the roof of the church, purchase vitamins and other non-prescription drugs, prepare a home for a resident pastor and deacon, provide funds for emergency medical care and surgeries and to replenish medical supplies. This parish encompasses not only the city of Sapillica but 46 small villages in the area. A very organized system of driving bumpy mountainous roads to reach all villages is assisted with funds for the pastor and when needed, miscellaneous items like tires for his truck.
Featured speakers at this year’s event are Ed and Pat Geiss of Chicago suburb Lake in the Hills. Since 2004 they have traveled to Chulucanas, Peru four times to assist Bishop of Chulucanas Dan Turley and the residents there. The Geiss’, he a retired social worker and she a retired teacher, were in Sapillica for the inauguration of the sister parish of Prince of Peace and installation of the first pastor, Padre Ricardo. The couple have many interesting stories to impart regarding their many months spent in Peru.
In addition to money raised by the annual dinner, Barb Foster, Peru Task Force chair, reported a total of $8,600 sent to the parish in Sapillica. That money was to provide the stipend and medical insurance for the priest and deacon who serve in La Virgen Pura y Limpia and assist in education, health care, and wellness there. These funds are available from sales of Fair Trade Coffee, coffee and donuts on Sundays, as well as special gift monthly envelopes. In April, Prince of Peace gave the visiting Bishop Turley a total of $4,300, including a memorial gift of $300 for the late Kim Limond, a Peru Task Force member. After her death in August, another $300 was collected in honor of Sallyann McCarthy, who had been a very active member of the Peru Task Force and had made a pilgrimage to the parish.
The public is invited to the dinner. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children. Both the parish at (563) 242-3311 or the Sisters of St. Francis at (563) 242-7611 can assist with questions, purchase of tickets or a donation.
