Diocese Continues Commitment to Sicuani, Peru

Sicuani, Peru is a harsh and remote town in the southern Andes. It’s a place far removed from the comfort we experience when we gather as a community of faith.  The people live in extreme poverty. The only way for residents to make a living is through farming, which remains a challenge due to drought, flooding, lack of machinery and poor techniques. There is little access to medical care and an inadequate educational system that leaves many unable to read or write.  Despite the challenges of great distances between parishes and a lack of clergy and religious, the people’s desire and commitment to celebrate their Catholic faith is as large as the divide that physically separates them.


Decades ago, Bishop William G. Connare visited the Prelature of Sicuani, which spans four of the poorest provinces of Peru. He developed a relationship that resulted in the Prelature becoming a sister diocese to the Diocese of Greensburg. As part of that commitment to help share the Good News of Jesus Christ, Bishop Connare offered Diocesan priests to serve in parish ministry through the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle. Carmelite missionaries have served the Prelature Sicuani since 1958. Priests from the Diocese of Greensburg continued to serve in Sicuani until the mid to late 1980s. In September of 2020, the Prelature officially became the Diocese of Sicuani.

Today, the Diocese continues its commitment by providing financial assistance for ministry support along with heartfelt prayers.


Recently, Bishop Pedro Alberto Bustamante Lopez from the Diocese of Sicuani sent a letter to Bishop Larry J. Kulick to report on two critical renovation projects on crumbling structures in his diocese. The cost of the renovations was supported in part through donations made to the Missions Office.


Bishop Bustamante said repairs to the buildings are important because they allow priests in the region to carry out pastoral work and evangelization in the high Andean parishes. “Our priests and religious, in their daily pastoral work, are strengthened and encouraged by people like you who do a great job promoting pastoral and religious projects of the Church in need,” he wrote. “Our diocese would not have been able to fully pay for this project without help from you and the people of Greensburg.”


It is through the generous support from parishioners and donors that enable the Diocese of Greensburg to continue its commitment to the Diocese of Sicuani. “We are able to send a portion of the funds collected through the Home Missions Appeal, which is collected during the first weekend of Lent,” said Father Anthony J. Carbone, Director of the Mission Office for the Diocese of Greensburg. “We also have several private donors who earmark gifts for the Diocese of Sicuani.”


Some of the proceeds from Prayer and Perfect Pairings, a fundraising dinner featuring recipes selected and prepared by Diocesan priests, also benefit the Peruvian diocese. To help the Diocese of Sicuani, Peru, mail donations to the Diocesan Mission Office (attention “Sicuani”), 723 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601. Checks should be payable to the “Diocese of Greensburg Mission Office.” All funds will be processed through secure channels to Sicuani, Peru. Only monetary help can be accepted due to Sicuani’s difficult terrain and road system. 

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