A Host-Baking Machine for Carmelite Sisters in Peru

The Convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Abancay, in southern central Peru, was initially established in 1964 with seven religious from Cusco. Today, the community has no fewer than 20 religious who live a strict life of prayer and self-denial. As a result, they have been able to send some of their Sisters to four other Carmelite convents, where vocations were fewer. They write: “In our contemplative life, we pray daily for the needs of the world and of all mankind.”

The Sisters of this contemplative congregation support themselves by the work of their hands. They make floral arrangements and sew liturgical items, but above all they make the hosts that are used for the celebration of the Eucharist in their diocese. Each month they produce over 300,000 hosts in their convent of Saint Joseph! However, with their old host making machine they found it very hard to produce this quantity, and at the same time the quantity needed has been steadily increasing as a result of the migration from the surrounding rural areas.

The Sisters turned to ACN and, thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we haven‘t let them down. Through your gifts, we were able to provide them with $13,500, and now the Sisters are rejoicing in their new host baking machine, which makes their work much easier.

They are most grateful to you all and write, “May God reward you all for your generosity! You may be assured of our prayers. In our poverty we take our prayers to Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and ask Him to pour out His graces and blessings on each and every one of you.”

Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.

Code: 234-06-39