Subsistence support for 12 religious sisters – Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco Paraguayo
The “Daughters of Mary Help of Christians” belong to the religious family of the Salesians of Don Bosco and are devoted in particular to the education of young people. Twelve sisters from this community currently live and work in the Vicariate Apostolic of Chaco Paraguayo in the far north of Paraguay. In fact, they not only care for the young people here but also support the families and visit the sick and the elderly, bringing them communion, giving catechetical instruction, and supporting the underprivileged with practical help and advice.
The vicariate is immense, covering around 96,000 km², close to the size of South Korea or a little larger than Hungary, yet is sparsely populated, with only 30,000 inhabitants. The roads are in poor condition and many places can only be reached by water. These include the two remote and isolated communities under the care of Sister Blanca. The people in them belong to two different Indigenous communities, and in order to reach them, Sister Blanca must make a journey of two-and-a-half hours along the Paraguay River.
Other sisters work in the town of Puerto Casado, where they care in particular for the Maskoy-speaking people. “The grace of God has always accompanied the sisters of our community, since they are instruments of the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the marginalized peoples of Puerto Casado and the Maskoy Indians – an impoverished ethnic group which is continuing to develop, thanks to the support of the Salesian brothers and sisters,” explains Sister Marciana Toledo Vergara, the superior of the community.
Sister Emilia works in five different Indigenous communities, preparing the children for their First Holy Communion, caring for the sick, and supporting the local teachers. She also supports the Maskoy-speaking students and generally helps the Indigenous Peoples in their daily struggle for survival.
Meanwhile, Sister Justa works together with some of the committed lay women of the parish, visiting the various suburbs of Puerto Casado. Sister Irene organizes catechetical sessions and leisure activities for the children and young people and also leads a youth group in the parish, helping to organize the liturgy and working to help those most in need.
In Ñu Apu’a, the sisters have established a boarding school for 110 children whose families live too far from the nearest school. As a result, these children can receive a proper school education.
These are just a few examples of the outstanding work the sisters are doing. They offer their service selflessly and for no reward, and so we in turn would like to support them for the current year with basic subsistence aid in the amount of $6,762. Will you help us?
