Peru, Chimbote

In the early 1960’s, leaders of the Catholic Church were ever more concerned with the plight of the people of Latin America who were living in extreme poverty and often under political oppression. The Holy See appealed to religious congregations in the United States to pledge ten percent of their membership over a ten-year period to serve the religious, educational, economic, and social needs of the Latin American people. As a response to this plea, it was decided a new mission would be founded in Chimbote, Peru. Sr. Charles Marie Franck had broad experience in working with the ministries of health in Brazil, Colombia, Chili, and Peru, and helped guide the decision as to where a mission in South America could be established. The new mission was placed under the direction of Sr. Charles Marie, with Sisters María Villegas, Rosaline Acosta, Louis Katherine Schuler, Mary Mark Gerken, and Gwendolyn Grothoff.

Arriving in Chimbote in 1964, the sisters began their work in St. Francis of Assisi parish. In addition the sisters set about seeing to the construction of a promised clinic, Centro Santa Clara, named after Rev Mother Mary Clare, Superior General of the congregation. Soon, the facility was serving over 1,000 persons each month. In 2014, the Congregation celebrated 50 years of ministry and presence in Peru.