Ministries

"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it."

~Francis of Assisi

Our ministries include feeding the homeless, comforting veterans, Bible study, visiting the sick, and serving the needs of the poorest of God's poor in Peru. Come join us! Help us change and grow deeper into the Mystical Body of Christ.

Work with the Homeless

Debbie Kongs

Debbie works with the I-Help group and arranges for our community to take our turn preparing and serving food for the homeless. Debbie is in charge of organizing this ministry.

Work with Troubled Youth

Jan Miedowicz

Jan volunteers time at Sunshine Acres as an educational aide. If you are interested in joining her in this work, please contact her at 480-892-9713.

Pastoral Care and Clinical Pastoral Training

David Roth

David is a certified clinical chaplain and directs a nationally accredited pastoral care ministry training program. He offers supervision and training in Phoenix and elsewhere in the Southwest to those who are preparing for ministry or enhancing their ministry skills. For more information: www.clinicalpastoraltraining.org

Ministry to the Sick

Manuela Vital

Manuela Vital is our nurse practitioner in charge of the ministry to the sick.

Liturgical Music Ministry

Mike & Debbie Kongs

Mike and Debbie plan and prepare music for our liturgies. Mike plays guitar; Debbie plays the organ.

Quilting and Socializing

Dilly Muehfelt

Dilly and her partners make quilts for veterans in the Phoenix VA hospital and for abused women and their children who are in local shelters. Dilly is the chairperson for these works. Dilly is also in charge of finding fun things to do so that parishioners can spent time together getting to know each other better through entertainment, and life’s celebrations.

Parish Book Club

Bobbie Orlando

Bobbie has formed a group that reads a book every month and then meets to discuss it at a local gathering place, mostly nearby restaurants. Both the mind and the body are nourished.

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Our Work in Peru

For the last 24 years, we have served the needs of abandoned children and those children in danger of abandonment in Guatemala, Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru. Our current programs are in Peru. Our goal is to financially support and spiritually nurture our sponsored children until they become self-sufficient, and responsible young adults. Abandoned children are taken off the streets and placed in our group home through the juvenile justice system in Peru. Some neighborhood children also are supported in order to prevent abandonment by strengthening single parent households to cope with dire poverty. When possible, we also welcome our children's estranged family members so that they can be integrated into a possible meaningful future with each other. Recently a sister of one of our abandoned children, Christian, miraculously appeared out of nowhere begging to be helped and reunited with her brother.

There are many people involved in making our programs succeed. In Peru, Julian and Yolanda Salvatierra have dedicated much of their lives as house parents giving our children love, discipline, an education and a stable environment. Here in the United States sponsors give monthly contributions for specific children. Donations are accepted to help the program as a whole. We are open to explore whether well intentioned Americans can dedicate a part of their lives in overseas program sites.

At present we have one young girl, Shirley, who finished her studies as a beautician. Another, Stephanie, finished her studies and now works as a broad band marketing executive. Another young lady, Silvia, has graduated from chef school and has started a café and grocery store with her brother. Milagros will finish nursing school in another year and says that she will put herself through medical school. Edu and Brayan are still in elementary school in our group home. One graduate, Abraham who has been recently married and now has his own daughter, has decided with his wife to take over our work within a couple years.

If anything above has touched your heart, interests you, or you have decided to help us serve the poorest of God's poor, please contact us.

WE WELCOME YOUR DONATION. Together we can make a difference!