Monday, September 06, 2010 Archbishop Currie Visits Peru February 11-23, 2008 (St. John’s, NL) Archbishop Martin Currie will be visiting Peru from February 11 – 23 and during the visit plans to take time to visit with some Newfoundlanders that he worked with in the late 1970’s. It will be the first visit of Archbishop Currie to the South American country since he was installed Archbishop of St. John’s earlier this year. As a young priest, Archbishop Currie, from 1975 – 1980 ministered in the parish of San Jose Obrero, Chiclayo, Peru. It was during this time that he first met priests from the Archdiocese of St. John’s and the Sisters of Mercy from Newfoundland who were working in the neighboring town of Monsefu. Throughout his life Archbishop Currie has maintained a friendship with his colleagues and the people of Peru and hopes to renew that friendship on this visit. The Archdiocese of St. John’s has had a connection to Peru since November 1960, when the young priest Father Charles Conroy expressed an interest in responding to Pope John XXIII’s appeal for priests to work in Latin America. As part of Archbishop Patrick J. Skinner’s plans to help the emerging church in Peru Archbishop Skinner approved of Father Conroy’s offer for work The priests over the years became initiated into the language and culture of Peru, eventually the Archdiocese took over full responsibility for the pastoral care of San Pedro’s Parish, Monsefu. Some of the priests still active the Archdiocese of St. John’s who have worked in Peru include Monsignor Jim Doody, Father John McGettigan and Father John Maddigan. The Sisters of Mercy from Newfoundland have been working in Peru since 1961 where they established a mission in the town Monsefu. Today they have convents in a number of places in Peru. Archbishop Currie has been back to South America, in recent years, for more formal visits on behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishop (CCCB) in his capacity as representatives on the board of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, the bishops’ overseas development agency. This will however be the first time that his itinerary will allow time for friends and colleagues.