Fr. Philip Nathaniel’s Peruvian Mission
______________________________________________________
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me”
(Matthew 25:40)
Serving the people of the Amazon Jungle
* felipenathaniel@msn.com
Iquitos – August 2007
Dear friends,
Greetings and best wishes to you all. After a short visit home to see my mum and family, followed by a few weeks in Lima helping out priest friends of mine in the shanty towns around the edges of Lima, I have been back in Iquitos since the middle of July. It is good to be back in my place of mission and serving the poor in this most abandoned and abused area of the country and our world.
You will have heard the news of the earthquake south of Lima, one of the most terrifying and devastating, 7.9 on the Richter scale, lasting for over 2 minutes and followed by hundreds of lesser quakes. The destruction is overwhelming leaving over 5,000 families without homes. The hospitals and clinics are overflowing with the injured lying on tables and floors, fortunately the number of deaths was fairly low for an earthquake of that magnitude – a little over 500 people – but that is no consolations to family, friends and neighbours. The whole country is in mourning and there is an feeling of tremendous sadness in all our hearts. We here in Iquitos are doing all we can to collect clothes, blankets, food and money to help the areas and people more severely affected.
Please don’t worry about us, we feel shocked as does everyone but we are well and carrying on our work as normal. Thank you for the e-mails we’ve received from so many people who care for us and were worried in case we had been hurt. The bishop of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese phoned my nephew – Fr. Joseph Plumb – to make sure we were OK and for that gesture of solidarity we both felt deeply grateful.
My main task at the moment is to acquire land to build a centre from which we can serve the people who have been displaced by the flooding of the rivers and are forming new towns outside Iquitos (Over 50 miles of small shanty towns and villages).
Those poor people build their homes out of sticks, poles, rusty old oil drums, palm-leaf roofs and whatever else they can find; they use water from the streams to drink and wash. Some – those nearer to Iquitos – have managed to get the local government to provide electricity at least for a couple of hours each night but the majority still have to depend on candles and kerosene lamps for light, practically all have to cook on open fires – fortunately there are normally sticks around to collect for firewood. They are tremendous people, they work hard to make ends meet, and, they are so very grateful for our presence among them in their struggle to build up their homes and communities and for whatever service we can provide. There is little or no health care and medicines are expensive; small schools are provided but the fees and educational needs must be paid for, many families just have no means whatsoever of paying for either and so illnesses go untreated and many children receive no education at all.
I am just beginning to help out in that area and am looking for a suitable base from which to better serve the people and to live among them.
For us August is an important month, preparing for the feast of Saint Rose of Lima, celebrated here on 30th August. Saint Rose was a young lay woman who dedicated her life to praying for the needs of the poor and assisting Saint Martin de Porres (also from Lima) in serving the poorest people with whatever mean they could beg from people a little more well off.
I promise to commend you all to the prayers of St. Rose during this time and I beg your help to continue St. Rose’s example by serving the poor of Peru in whatever way we able.
I am sorry to inform you that due to ill health John Pendlebury can no longer continue a my Financial Agent. John has fulfilled that task faithfully and accompanied me in my mission for the past 19 years, I feel so grateful to him and ask you to keep him in your prayers. Maureen Bennett has kindly agreed to continue John’s work for the poor as my Financial Agent, her address is below.
God bless and reward you all.
Padre Felipe (Fr. Philip Nathaniel)
Postal address:
Rev. Fr. Philip Nathaniel
Apartado 108
IQUITOS
Perú
S. América
MAKE A GIFT FOR THE POOR
If you can help the poor of the Amazon by making a gift, send a donation to the following address:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission
C/O: or C/O:
Maureen Bennett Fr. Brendan Curley
Kids Allowed St. Cuthbert’s Presbytery
Derwent Avenue 3 Palatine Road
Manchester Withington
M21 7QS M20 3LH
England England
Or, by Bank Deposit or a Direct Debit Order to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227 (A registered charity in Great Britain)
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com in order to acknowledge your gift.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Fr. Philip Nathaniel’s Peruvian Mission
______________________________________________________
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me”
(Matthew 25:40)
Serving the people of the Amazon Jungle
* felipenathaniel@msn.com
Iquitos – August 2007
Dear friends,
Greetings and best wishes to you all. After a short visit home to see my mum and family, followed by a few weeks in Lima helping out priest friends of mine in the shanty towns around the edges of Lima, I have been back in Iquitos since the middle of July. It is good to be back in my place of mission and serving the poor in this most abandoned and abused area of the country and our world.
You will have heard the news of the earthquake south of Lima, one of the most terrifying and devastating, 7.9 on the Richter scale, lasting for over 2 minutes and followed by hundreds of lesser quakes. The destruction is overwhelming leaving over 5,000 families without homes. The hospitals and clinics are overflowing with the injured lying on tables and floors, fortunately the number of deaths was fairly low for an earthquake of that magnitude – a little over 500 people – but that is no consolations to family, friends and neighbours. The whole country is in mourning and there is an feeling of tremendous sadness in all our hearts. We here in Iquitos are doing all we can to collect clothes, blankets, food and money to help the areas and people more severely affected.
Please don’t worry about us, we feel shocked as does everyone but we are well and carrying on our work as normal. Thank you for the e-mails we’ve received from so many people who care for us and were worried in case we had been hurt. The bishop of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese phoned my nephew – Fr. Joseph Plumb – to make sure we were OK and for that gesture of solidarity we both felt deeply grateful.
My main task at the moment is to acquire land to build a centre from which we can serve the people who have been displaced by the flooding of the rivers and are forming new towns outside Iquitos (Over 50 miles of small shanty towns and villages).
Those poor people build their homes out of sticks, poles, rusty old oil drums, palm-leaf roofs and whatever else they can find; they use water from the streams to drink and wash. Some – those nearer to Iquitos – have managed to get the local government to provide electricity at least for a couple of hours each night but the majority still have to depend on candles and kerosene lamps for light, practically all have to cook on open fires – fortunately there are normally sticks around to collect for firewood. They are tremendous people, they work hard to make ends meet, and, they are so very grateful for our presence among them in their struggle to build up their homes and communities and for whatever service we can provide. There is little or no health care and medicines are expensive; small schools are provided but the fees and educational needs must be paid for, many families just have no means whatsoever of paying for either and so illnesses go untreated and many children receive no education at all.
I am just beginning to help out in that area and am looking for a suitable base from which to better serve the people and to live among them.
For us August is an important month, preparing for the feast of Saint Rose of Lima, celebrated here on 30th August. Saint Rose was a young lay woman who dedicated her life to praying for the needs of the poor and assisting Saint Martin de Porres (also from Lima) in serving the poorest people with whatever mean they could beg from people a little more well off.
I promise to commend you all to the prayers of St. Rose during this time and I beg your help to continue St. Rose’s example by serving the poor of Peru in whatever way we able.
I am sorry to inform you that due to ill health John Pendlebury can no longer continue a my Financial Agent. John has fulfilled that task faithfully and accompanied me in my mission for the past 19 years, I feel so grateful to him and ask you to keep him in your prayers. Maureen Bennett has kindly agreed to continue John’s work for the poor as my Financial Agent, her address is below.
God bless and reward you all.
Padre Felipe (Fr. Philip Nathaniel)
Postal address:
Rev. Fr. Philip Nathaniel
Apartado 108
IQUITOS
Perú
S. América
MAKE A GIFT FOR THE POOR
If you can help the poor of the Amazon by making a gift, send a donation to the following address:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission
C/O: or C/O:
Maureen Bennett Fr. Brendan Curley
Kids Allowed St. Cuthbert’s Presbytery
Derwent Avenue 3 Palatine Road
Manchester Withington
M21 7QS M20 3LH
England England
Or, by Bank Deposit or a Direct Debit Order to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227 (A registered charity in Great Britain)
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com in order to acknowledge your gift.
______________________________________________________
“Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me”
(Matthew 25:40)
Serving the people of the Amazon Jungle
* felipenathaniel@msn.com
Iquitos – August 2007
Dear friends,
Greetings and best wishes to you all. After a short visit home to see my mum and family, followed by a few weeks in Lima helping out priest friends of mine in the shanty towns around the edges of Lima, I have been back in Iquitos since the middle of July. It is good to be back in my place of mission and serving the poor in this most abandoned and abused area of the country and our world.
You will have heard the news of the earthquake south of Lima, one of the most terrifying and devastating, 7.9 on the Richter scale, lasting for over 2 minutes and followed by hundreds of lesser quakes. The destruction is overwhelming leaving over 5,000 families without homes. The hospitals and clinics are overflowing with the injured lying on tables and floors, fortunately the number of deaths was fairly low for an earthquake of that magnitude – a little over 500 people – but that is no consolations to family, friends and neighbours. The whole country is in mourning and there is an feeling of tremendous sadness in all our hearts. We here in Iquitos are doing all we can to collect clothes, blankets, food and money to help the areas and people more severely affected.
Please don’t worry about us, we feel shocked as does everyone but we are well and carrying on our work as normal. Thank you for the e-mails we’ve received from so many people who care for us and were worried in case we had been hurt. The bishop of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese phoned my nephew – Fr. Joseph Plumb – to make sure we were OK and for that gesture of solidarity we both felt deeply grateful.
My main task at the moment is to acquire land to build a centre from which we can serve the people who have been displaced by the flooding of the rivers and are forming new towns outside Iquitos (Over 50 miles of small shanty towns and villages).
Those poor people build their homes out of sticks, poles, rusty old oil drums, palm-leaf roofs and whatever else they can find; they use water from the streams to drink and wash. Some – those nearer to Iquitos – have managed to get the local government to provide electricity at least for a couple of hours each night but the majority still have to depend on candles and kerosene lamps for light, practically all have to cook on open fires – fortunately there are normally sticks around to collect for firewood. They are tremendous people, they work hard to make ends meet, and, they are so very grateful for our presence among them in their struggle to build up their homes and communities and for whatever service we can provide. There is little or no health care and medicines are expensive; small schools are provided but the fees and educational needs must be paid for, many families just have no means whatsoever of paying for either and so illnesses go untreated and many children receive no education at all.
I am just beginning to help out in that area and am looking for a suitable base from which to better serve the people and to live among them.
For us August is an important month, preparing for the feast of Saint Rose of Lima, celebrated here on 30th August. Saint Rose was a young lay woman who dedicated her life to praying for the needs of the poor and assisting Saint Martin de Porres (also from Lima) in serving the poorest people with whatever mean they could beg from people a little more well off.
I promise to commend you all to the prayers of St. Rose during this time and I beg your help to continue St. Rose’s example by serving the poor of Peru in whatever way we able.
I am sorry to inform you that due to ill health John Pendlebury can no longer continue a my Financial Agent. John has fulfilled that task faithfully and accompanied me in my mission for the past 19 years, I feel so grateful to him and ask you to keep him in your prayers. Maureen Bennett has kindly agreed to continue John’s work for the poor as my Financial Agent, her address is below.
God bless and reward you all.
Padre Felipe (Fr. Philip Nathaniel)
Postal address:
Rev. Fr. Philip Nathaniel
Apartado 108
IQUITOS
Perú
S. América
MAKE A GIFT FOR THE POOR
If you can help the poor of the Amazon by making a gift, send a donation to the following address:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission
C/O: or C/O:
Maureen Bennett Fr. Brendan Curley
Kids Allowed St. Cuthbert’s Presbytery
Derwent Avenue 3 Palatine Road
Manchester Withington
M21 7QS M20 3LH
England England
Or, by Bank Deposit or a Direct Debit Order to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227 (A registered charity in Great Britain)
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com in order to acknowledge your gift.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Fr. Philip Nathaniel’s Mission in Peru
Diocesan Seminary of Iquitos
“Forming men from the Amazon jungle to be Priests for the jungle”
* felipenathaniel@msn.com
7th January 2007
Dear friends,
Greetings from the Amazon and Happy Feast of the Epiphany!
I hope that you are well and that the Christmas and New Year celebrations brought you peace, joy and the promise of future blessings from our Lord who presents himself to as a humble, defenceless baby full of love to give.
I had a good relaxing time in Orellana. On the 29th November I celebrated the Confirmation of 10 young people – 6 men and 4 women – of between 18 and 21 years of age. The following day – 30th – I celebrated the First Communion of teenagers and adults – 19 of them in all. On the 8th December 12 youngsters 10 to 14 years of age received their First Holy Communion and on the 23rd December I baptized 36 babies and young children. During my time there I also went out to a few of the closer river communities – only about 1½ journey by motorboat to baptize. I wasn’t really fit enough to go any further so Amalia – the Mexican lay missionary – went to baptize in the far off communities. We celebrated Christmas Mass (in which you were all remembered) at 10pm on Christmas Eve and that was also my ADIOS to Orellana for the time being. The next day – Christmas Day, also my birthday – the boat for Iquitos left at 6am on the dot; due to arrive in Iquitos about 2 or 3pm, for some unknown reason we didn’t arrive until 5pm – 11 hours journey. You imagine how grateful I was to see familiar faces awaiting me at the port: my nephew Fr.Joseph Plumb, the newly ordained Fr.James Saenz Diaz and two happy faced seminarians – they’d been waiting there for me since 2pm – it’s nice to know you’re loved!!!
I’m now back in the Seminary and it feels strange. It was like taking stepping back in time, I’ve been away for a full year yet everything is the same as when I left, even the documents and things on my desk. Apparently to respect my privacy and confidentiality my office and room were locked and sealed (like they do when the Pope dies !!!) – it’s almost as though 2006 never existed and yet I know very well that it did. Slowly I’m getting back into a routine, not doing much as yet just settling-in, the lads are on holiday until the 4th February. However, from tomorrow my work really starts, interviewing prospective candidates for entry to the seminary this year. Please keep me in your prayers, it’s not always easy to decide who should and who should not be accepted for training, and, when funds are very limited you have to even more choosy – I know that sounds bad but we have to be realistic. We must also be very careful of the type of men offering themselves for priesthood, as you all know so very well.
Diocesan Seminary of Iquitos
“Forming men from the Amazon jungle to be Priests for the jungle”
* felipenathaniel@msn.com
7th January 2007
Dear friends,
Greetings from the Amazon and Happy Feast of the Epiphany!
I hope that you are well and that the Christmas and New Year celebrations brought you peace, joy and the promise of future blessings from our Lord who presents himself to as a humble, defenceless baby full of love to give.
I had a good relaxing time in Orellana. On the 29th November I celebrated the Confirmation of 10 young people – 6 men and 4 women – of between 18 and 21 years of age. The following day – 30th – I celebrated the First Communion of teenagers and adults – 19 of them in all. On the 8th December 12 youngsters 10 to 14 years of age received their First Holy Communion and on the 23rd December I baptized 36 babies and young children. During my time there I also went out to a few of the closer river communities – only about 1½ journey by motorboat to baptize. I wasn’t really fit enough to go any further so Amalia – the Mexican lay missionary – went to baptize in the far off communities. We celebrated Christmas Mass (in which you were all remembered) at 10pm on Christmas Eve and that was also my ADIOS to Orellana for the time being. The next day – Christmas Day, also my birthday – the boat for Iquitos left at 6am on the dot; due to arrive in Iquitos about 2 or 3pm, for some unknown reason we didn’t arrive until 5pm – 11 hours journey. You imagine how grateful I was to see familiar faces awaiting me at the port: my nephew Fr.Joseph Plumb, the newly ordained Fr.James Saenz Diaz and two happy faced seminarians – they’d been waiting there for me since 2pm – it’s nice to know you’re loved!!!
I’m now back in the Seminary and it feels strange. It was like taking stepping back in time, I’ve been away for a full year yet everything is the same as when I left, even the documents and things on my desk. Apparently to respect my privacy and confidentiality my office and room were locked and sealed (like they do when the Pope dies !!!) – it’s almost as though 2006 never existed and yet I know very well that it did. Slowly I’m getting back into a routine, not doing much as yet just settling-in, the lads are on holiday until the 4th February. However, from tomorrow my work really starts, interviewing prospective candidates for entry to the seminary this year. Please keep me in your prayers, it’s not always easy to decide who should and who should not be accepted for training, and, when funds are very limited you have to even more choosy – I know that sounds bad but we have to be realistic. We must also be very careful of the type of men offering themselves for priesthood, as you all know so very well.
Walking through some of the poorer areas of the city people I’ve not seen for ages and many who I’ve never known greet me “Hola padrecite, ya regresaste, que bueno verte de nuevo, te hemos extrañado” (Hello Father, you’re back, it’s nice to see you again, we’ve missed you) and they really seem to mean it. As I said above: It’s nice to be loved, it’s nice to feel welcome, wanted and, especially after a stroke it good to feel still useful.
The contemplative nuns (Conceptionists) who I’m chaplain to send you their greetings and the promise of prayers. You can send me prayer requests if you like and I’ll pass them on. Also many of the lads have popped in to say hello and they ask after you all – they know that you’re important to me because I’m forever reminding them that you – our friends – make all of our work here possible; not only the priestly training that is our main task, but also, all the other people in need of assistance, care and a friendly hand – food, medicines, clothes, school books, Aids victims, street kids etc etc – that we are able to help in some way through the power of your prayers and your tremendous generosity.
At the moment I’m trying to figure out how to get some new computers, the 8 that we have are now 8 years old and have suffered constant use at the hands of so many students (they usually queuing-up the use them), only one is still working and we’re only a few weeks until the beginning of term, we’ll manage somehow – God has always provided in the past so I’m sure he won’t let us down now.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Look after yourselves; pray for us as we do for you!
Padre Felipe x… - (Fr. Philip Nathaniel)
Postal address:
Rev. Fr. Philip Nathaniel
Seminario Diocesano
Apartado 108
IQUITOS
Perú
S. América
MAKE A GIFT OF A - “PRIEST FOR THE POOR”
If you can help to train a PRIEST FOR THE POOR by making a gift, send a donation to the following address:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission
C/O: or C/O:
Cathedral House St. Cuthbert’s Presbytery
250 Chapel Street 3 Palatine Road
Salford Withington
M3 5LL M20 3LH
England England
Or, by Bank Deposit or a Direct Debit Order to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227 (A registered charity in Great Britain)
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Look after yourselves; pray for us as we do for you!
Padre Felipe x… - (Fr. Philip Nathaniel)
Postal address:
Rev. Fr. Philip Nathaniel
Seminario Diocesano
Apartado 108
IQUITOS
Perú
S. América
MAKE A GIFT OF A - “PRIEST FOR THE POOR”
If you can help to train a PRIEST FOR THE POOR by making a gift, send a donation to the following address:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission
C/O: or C/O:
Cathedral House St. Cuthbert’s Presbytery
250 Chapel Street 3 Palatine Road
Salford Withington
M3 5LL M20 3LH
England England
Or, by Bank Deposit or a Direct Debit Order to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227 (A registered charity in Great Britain)
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Diocesan Seminary of Iquitos - Peru
NATIVE PRIESTS TO SERVE THEIR POOR
That is the dream, the hope and the vision of the APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of IQUITOS in the heart of the Peruvian Jungle (Rainforest).
RELIANCE ON MISSIONARIES
For almost 200 years the Catholics in the Peruvian Amazon Jungle have been served by missionary priests from Spain, Canada, Mexico, England, Malta, Australia and Poland, also by missionary sisters from as far away as Indonesia and the African countries of Benin, Togo and Senegal.
NEED FOR A LOCAL DIOCESAN CLERGY
Realising the urgent need to prepare and train local native men as diocesan priests to serve their own people, the bishop - himself a Spanish missionary - founded a Diocesan Seminary in the city of Iquitos to train candidates for priesthood in their own environment - the jungle.
LIKE A SMALL SEED GROWS
Although founded in 1996 the seminary only began to function in 1999 when a Salford Diocesan priest - Fr. Philip Nathaniel - then serving along the Amazonian rivers was appointed Rector of the Seminary. Since then the seminary has gone from strength to strength; beginning with only 4 students in February 1999 now, 7 years later, there are 42 men between the ages of 18 and 34 in training for the Sacred Priesthood. All are Peruvian men and natives of the many rivers of the Amazon jungle.
A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO WILLING TO SERVE???
That number could be higher, each year approximately half of those applying to enter the seminary have to be turned away and asked to wait simply because there is not the accommodation nor the funds available to take them in and train them. Sadly, some never come back - feeling left by the wayside and unwanted by the Church. Others persevere and return year after year in the hope that there will finally be a place for them.
A LITTLE CAN GO VERY FAR
The financial cost of training priests is high everywhere, normally that cost is covered by the local Church and the faithful are generous in their giving because they understand that finance is necessary. The Amazon jungle is mission territory - that is why it is still an APOSTOLIC VICARIATE and not a Diocese - the majority of the population live from hand-to-mouth in extreme poverty, surviving on what they can fish and grow. Materially the Church in the Amazon, like its faithful, is poor because its people are poor; money is scarce but still needed and so, we rely on the generosity of our Catholic sisters and brothers who can spare a little and by their financial gifts provide the formation and training our future priests need. One years training in a seminary here in Europe costs approximately £20,000; in the Amazon jungle there is much greater value-for-money, that same year costs about £4,000. As they say in the Supermarket - “Every little helps”.
RICHER THAN GOLD IS THE LOVE OF THE LORD
In their poverty the poor don’t look to the world or material wealth to satisfy them, they look to God and the Church for their riches. The food for which they hunger most are the Word of God, the Teachings of the Catholic Faith, the Sacraments, a Priest of their own to Serve them lovingly, to accompany them in life’s daily struggle and to celebrate Holy Mass for them - to make JESUS the true Bread of Life present to them, their Saviour and Lord, their only Hope and their greatest Joy.
THE BEST AID FOR THE POOR
There are many and various ways to assist the poor in so many places, the Catholic poor of the Amazon jungle hunger more for lasting gift of the FAITH than for fleeting material handouts. Your GIFT of a PRIEST is the answer to their prayers, and gives them everlasting consolation and hope in spite of the dire and daily poverty they endure.
MAKE A GIFT OF A - “PRIEST FOR THE POOR”
If you can help to train a PRIEST FOR THE POOR by making a gift, send a donation to the following address: Fr. Nathaniel’s Peruvian Mission
C/O:
Cathedral House
250 Chapel Street
Salford
M3 5LL
Or, by Bank Deposit or a DIRECT DEBIT ORDER to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Peruvian Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com in order to acknowledge your gift.
NEWSLETTER
If you would like to receive our occasional Newsletter please e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com
A DAILY PRAYER FOR OUR BENEFACTORS
Father,
pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon our world.
Grant peace of soul to all who suffer hatred, fear and hurt, and heal our broken, wounded hearts with the soothing balm of your love.
Bless and reward the sacrifices and prayers of all who know me, love me and who care for me
and for those I serve in your name.
Be ever close to my family, my friends and my benefactors in their every need.
Bless all who have asked for my prayers.
Draw especially near to N… & N… who is/are in need of your blessing and care in this time of trial.
Thank you, Father,
for the peace with which you fill our hearts, even in the midst of sorrow and pain, and for your caring hand to
guide, guard and hold us - even when we feel most alone.
Give peace and eternal joy to those who have died in your friendship, especially N…,
and to all the dead whose faith is known to you alone.
Father,
help me always to care for the people you have entrusted to my shepherds heart with sincere humility,
a joy-filled spirit and deep compassion - sharing their pain.
Keep me, at all times, in all ways and everywhere lowly of heart.
I place these prayers before you, Father,
through the loving heart of Jesus your beloved Son and my beloved Lord,
through, with and in whom I pray: OUR FATHER…
That is the dream, the hope and the vision of the APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of IQUITOS in the heart of the Peruvian Jungle (Rainforest).
RELIANCE ON MISSIONARIES
For almost 200 years the Catholics in the Peruvian Amazon Jungle have been served by missionary priests from Spain, Canada, Mexico, England, Malta, Australia and Poland, also by missionary sisters from as far away as Indonesia and the African countries of Benin, Togo and Senegal.
NEED FOR A LOCAL DIOCESAN CLERGY
Realising the urgent need to prepare and train local native men as diocesan priests to serve their own people, the bishop - himself a Spanish missionary - founded a Diocesan Seminary in the city of Iquitos to train candidates for priesthood in their own environment - the jungle.
LIKE A SMALL SEED GROWS
Although founded in 1996 the seminary only began to function in 1999 when a Salford Diocesan priest - Fr. Philip Nathaniel - then serving along the Amazonian rivers was appointed Rector of the Seminary. Since then the seminary has gone from strength to strength; beginning with only 4 students in February 1999 now, 7 years later, there are 42 men between the ages of 18 and 34 in training for the Sacred Priesthood. All are Peruvian men and natives of the many rivers of the Amazon jungle.
A PLACE FOR THOSE WHO WILLING TO SERVE???
That number could be higher, each year approximately half of those applying to enter the seminary have to be turned away and asked to wait simply because there is not the accommodation nor the funds available to take them in and train them. Sadly, some never come back - feeling left by the wayside and unwanted by the Church. Others persevere and return year after year in the hope that there will finally be a place for them.
A LITTLE CAN GO VERY FAR
The financial cost of training priests is high everywhere, normally that cost is covered by the local Church and the faithful are generous in their giving because they understand that finance is necessary. The Amazon jungle is mission territory - that is why it is still an APOSTOLIC VICARIATE and not a Diocese - the majority of the population live from hand-to-mouth in extreme poverty, surviving on what they can fish and grow. Materially the Church in the Amazon, like its faithful, is poor because its people are poor; money is scarce but still needed and so, we rely on the generosity of our Catholic sisters and brothers who can spare a little and by their financial gifts provide the formation and training our future priests need. One years training in a seminary here in Europe costs approximately £20,000; in the Amazon jungle there is much greater value-for-money, that same year costs about £4,000. As they say in the Supermarket - “Every little helps”.
RICHER THAN GOLD IS THE LOVE OF THE LORD
In their poverty the poor don’t look to the world or material wealth to satisfy them, they look to God and the Church for their riches. The food for which they hunger most are the Word of God, the Teachings of the Catholic Faith, the Sacraments, a Priest of their own to Serve them lovingly, to accompany them in life’s daily struggle and to celebrate Holy Mass for them - to make JESUS the true Bread of Life present to them, their Saviour and Lord, their only Hope and their greatest Joy.
THE BEST AID FOR THE POOR
There are many and various ways to assist the poor in so many places, the Catholic poor of the Amazon jungle hunger more for lasting gift of the FAITH than for fleeting material handouts. Your GIFT of a PRIEST is the answer to their prayers, and gives them everlasting consolation and hope in spite of the dire and daily poverty they endure.
MAKE A GIFT OF A - “PRIEST FOR THE POOR”
If you can help to train a PRIEST FOR THE POOR by making a gift, send a donation to the following address: Fr. Nathaniel’s Peruvian Mission
C/O:
Cathedral House
250 Chapel Street
Salford
M3 5LL
Or, by Bank Deposit or a DIRECT DEBIT ORDER to:
Fr. Nathaniel’s Peruvian Mission - Royal Bank of Scotland Sort Code:160002 A/C N° 20071227
In the USA to:
Philip A Nathaniel - Sovereign Bank A/C N° 62000016212
When making a donation via the bank, please, inform me by letter to the above address or by e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com in order to acknowledge your gift.
NEWSLETTER
If you would like to receive our occasional Newsletter please e-mail to felipenathaniel@msn.com
A DAILY PRAYER FOR OUR BENEFACTORS
Father,
pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon our world.
Grant peace of soul to all who suffer hatred, fear and hurt, and heal our broken, wounded hearts with the soothing balm of your love.
Bless and reward the sacrifices and prayers of all who know me, love me and who care for me
and for those I serve in your name.
Be ever close to my family, my friends and my benefactors in their every need.
Bless all who have asked for my prayers.
Draw especially near to N… & N… who is/are in need of your blessing and care in this time of trial.
Thank you, Father,
for the peace with which you fill our hearts, even in the midst of sorrow and pain, and for your caring hand to
guide, guard and hold us - even when we feel most alone.
Give peace and eternal joy to those who have died in your friendship, especially N…,
and to all the dead whose faith is known to you alone.
Father,
help me always to care for the people you have entrusted to my shepherds heart with sincere humility,
a joy-filled spirit and deep compassion - sharing their pain.
Keep me, at all times, in all ways and everywhere lowly of heart.
I place these prayers before you, Father,
through the loving heart of Jesus your beloved Son and my beloved Lord,
through, with and in whom I pray: OUR FATHER…
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