President Higgins Addresses Missionaries in Peru
President remarks that missionaries continue to 'bring so much joy, practical help and hope'.
President Higgins addressing Irish missionaries in Lima, Peru on February 9th. Image courtesy of President og Ireland Twitter account.
President Michael D. Higgins addresed Irish missionaries in Lima, Peru during his two week visit to Latin America. He thanked the missionaries for gathering at short notice and highlighed the hope that their presence offers to others:
“It is very important for you to know that as President of Ireland, it makes my heart lift to know there are people who are working to create hope where it doesn’t exist and where hope does, that spark is there, to make sure it is a bright flame that keeps people going.
“You bring so much joy but practical help, and you bring hope, and you indicate what I think is the values of Ireland at their very best."
During his visit to Peru, President Higgins also focussed on the impact of industrialization on the Amazon Basin and the general theme of the environment. He also visited Columbia before arriving in Cuba on Wednesday last (15th February). His three state visit has focussed on recognizing the strong links which exist between Latin America and Ireland.
In 1980, the then Archbishop of Cordoba, Argentina invited the late Sr. Mariciana O'Keeffe, who was OLA Superior General at the time, to start a mission in the South American country. The OLA mission commenced in Cordoba in October 1982 with Srs. Rachel Hohmann (France), Anne Barry (Ireland) and Nicole Rivard (Canada)
The OLAs currently have a presence in two locations: Cordoba and Buenos Aires. There are eight OLA Sisters between the two communities with four from Argentina and one each from France, Nigeria, Ghana and Italy respectively. Their ministries include social and pastoral work, catechetics and mission animation.
Pictured during the Superior General Visitation to Argentina in 2016 are (clockwise from back right): Srs. Sandra Mazzanti, Teresa Lacombe, Edel Mowah (Sister in charge of District) and Felicia Harry (OLA Superior General).
A file image of Sr. Patricia McMenamin with children from a barrion in Cordoba. Sr. Patricia spent some time on mission in Argentina.
