from peru family institute

Lead with Prayer: Seeds of Wisdom from Our Branches

Prayer is the means of communication with God, if we do not practice it, we are walking alone; as part of the mission of HCFM, we are called to strengthen spiritual well-being, and we will achieve it with the power of prayer. Every time we begin to develop an activity in our programs, projects, and services, we invoke God and the Virgin Mary.  In these spaces we observe that people are motivated to live a different experience, where they will come out strengthened in their faith, hoping to overcome the obstacles that arise in their lives.

Prayer in Action: Flourishing in the Field

Sheyla is a single mother; she has three daughters, Antonia, from her first partner, Geraldine, and Maria, from her second engagement. Her first partner died of HIV, and the second does not live with her. Sheyla and her eldest daughter, Antonia, have HIV and are receiving hospital treatment. Sheyla is an only child; she lives in her parents' house. Her mother died of COVID-19 in 2021, and her father, Felipe, 70, has pulmonary fibrosis, so he needs a medical exam of his lungs to rule out cancer. Given the situation, INFAM, through the social service, has supported and accompanied him in this process. We talked about how she lived her spirituality and relationship with God. She replied that as a child, her parents instilled faith in God from Catholicism. She also told us how she lived her faith with the family and said that with her daughters, there was no practice in this. Thus, in coordination with her, on several occasions when she was visited, prayer spaces were promoted to bless the food and pray the Holy Rosary. From this experience, she shared that one day before the prayer, she felt overwhelmed, and after the visit and the prayer, she felt relieved, hopeful, and with a sense of peace, which she could not describe in words. Now, Sheyla prays with her daughters and father daily and gets by working for her family. 

The Tranquil Garden: Whispers of Transformation

In silence and prayer, we encounter God, who guides us, giving us light on our personal, family, and professional journey. At the Patrick Peyton Center, we have a chapel where we can pause in our work to contemplate Christ in His love and mercy.

Relying on the Harvest: Seeds of Delivery and Growth

In the Patricio Peyton Pastoral Center, where the staff of INFAM and those of the Patricio Peyton Center work, in addition, in union with the workers of the Casa San José, we have managed from Monday to Friday at noon to gather to pray the Holy Rosary, thanks to prayer we can share and pray for our intentions. It is very good to have this space for prayer and reflection, leaving for a moment the daily work to strengthen ourselves in faith. Still, this is a challenge because sometimes, we prioritize work, but little by little, we feel that we cannot continue if we have not been nourished by prayer; we need it to regain the strength and lucidity to accompany families in their spiritual well-being.