Thursday, June 5, 2014

Meet the Sisters

Sr. Matilde     Sr. Paula      Sr. Monica         Sr. Maribel

Sister Monica Olguin teaches English classes in the high school and is the director of the school. Sister Monica has visited the United States for her religious meetings at the Mother house in Milwaukee. She also works in the parish with the teenagers in the Confirmation program.

Sister Maribel Salcedo teaches Catholic education in the school.

Sister Paula Giron teaches History and Catholic education in the school. Besides teaching in the school, she works in the dispensary, giving out medicines to the people who need them. She is also studying Chemistry to give a better service in the dispensary.

Sister Matilde Maravi, is now living back in Paita after being after being away for 8 years. She is going to the university to continue her education. She teaches Catholic education in elementary and high school at St. Clare School. She also helps in the parish with young people.


All four sisters are Peruvian and work together at the school to improve and give the best education and formation of Christian values to the students. They have a very long work week, getting up every morning at 5:30 and working or studying until very late each evening. But they always know their priorities and that's why they attend daily Mass, every evening at 7pm (except Wednesday)!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Meet Ellen


Emma and Ellen
Ellen has been a member of St. Paul's since 1989. She has been married to Peter for 37 years and they have three grown children, Andrew, Katie and Heidi. They have also been blessed with three grandchildren, Emma, Samuel and Peter (so far!). Her nursing career has been such a gift! She looks forward to sharing this gift with the people of Peru. This is her second medical mission (first mission was to Mexico). She looks forward to this wonderful opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Meet Catherine

Catherine Desmond is the newest member of the team, although she's not a member of St.Paul Parish. She's a Catholic Worker at Casa Maria in Milwaukee and met Nancy Reinbold as she takes one of the staff shopping every month for their homeless guests. (Thanks for the grant from the St. Paul people) She's a retired RN and psychotherapist.

She and her family lived in Aguascalientes, Mexico for three years, some years ago, setting up a culture center through the LaCrosse diocese, and she's always glad to return to a Spanish-speaking country. She has four awesome grown sons, one is a priest, and five delightful grandchildren. 

She's so looking forward to this trip to Peru.

Meet Nancy

Nancy and her husband John have been members of St Paul’s Parish since 1985. Their children went to school at St Paul’s. Their children are grown now with families of their own and they treasure their six grandchildren.Nancy works as a registered nurse. She is currently at St Joseph Medical Clinic in Waukesha. St Joe’s is a free clinic that has been in existence for over 35 years.  She is the medical case manager/outreach nurse for the homeless and threatened homeless in the Waukesha area.

Prior to becoming involved with the Peru project, she was involved with and traveled to Guatemala thru St Paul Parish. She and John  have been  blessed in their lives and feel that it is now time to give back. They are thankful to be in a position to do so.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Meet Miranda


Miranda just turned 14 years and is finishing up her final year at Kettle Moraine Middle School.   She will be entering Kettle Moraine’s School of Global Leadership and Innovation in the fall.  She was recently awarded The Girl Scout Silver Award Medal as a Cadette. She was able to raise public awareness and funds to purchase over 40 musical instruments and recruit performing musicians for The Caring Place in Waukesha, an adult day care center for the elderly with dementia and other disabilities. This was a special service project as her grandmother is helped there. She and her family are active in the church and their community. She serves as an Altar Server and volunteers with the Interfaith Senior Programs.  During her time in Peru, she will be teaching dental hygiene to the children of Paita. Miranda organized a school drive for dental supplies and partnered with her Orthodontist, who donated dental and teaching supplies that she will be taking with her. She loves to spend time with friends and help others.

Meet Charlie


Miranda “Charlie” Spindt is organizing the medical aspects of this mission to Peru. She has been practicing as a Physician Assistant for almost 20 years in Family Medicine and Urgent Care. She is currently on staff with ProHealth Care in Waukesha. She also teaches PA students as an Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor with Marquette University’s PA program.  She has a passion for service and helping others. She is a volunteer provider at St. Joseph’s Medical Clinic in Waukesha and One Touch Free Clinics.  She and her family also volunteer with The Interfaith Senior Programs.  She is happily married to Marc Spindt and will soon celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. They have 2 great kids. Nicolas is 10 years old and Miranda, who is joining her mom in Peru, is 14 years old.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Meet Deb

Picture will be added later today.

Deb met her husband Michael while working at AT&T. She retired in 1992, after 20 years of service, to become a stay-at-home mom. While raising their two children, she was able to enjoyed doing a variety of volunteer work in her community. She was an area leader for the Channel 10 (PBS) auction for many years, was a Big Sister for several young girls in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Milwaukee, and transported seniors and adults with disabilities to the doctor though the Interfaith Caregiving Network.   

In 1992, Deb and Michael were members at another local Catholic church but was told about St. Paul Parish looking into twinning with a parish in Guatemala, in partnership with the School Sisters of St. Francis (SSSF). She called the pastoral associate, Len Grassmann, who had invited her to join them in this new venture. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship with Len, the SSSF and St. Paul Parish. She and her husband have been members since 1992. She has lead several trips to Guatemala. Deb is the chairperson of the St. Clare School Outreach Team at St. Paul Parish. She's very excited about her second trip to Peru.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

We're Getting Ready for our 2014 Trip

On June 21, eight people from St. Paul Parish in Genesee Depot,Wisconsin, will be traveling to St. Clare School, located in Paita, Peru, to provide basic medical services to that community. This is our first medical trip to Peru and our second trip to that region.

Paita is very poor community, located on Peru’s northwest coast and it is very desert-like. Many homes do not have running water, plumbing or electricity and most people have limited access to healthcare.

Our team will be introduced to you as each member submits their introduction. Please continue to check our blog for updates.











Donate Your Gently Used Walkers, Canes, Crutches, and Wheelchairs!


 Attention St. Paul Parishioners and Waukesha County, WI Residents!

There is a great need for these mobility devices in Peru. Please join the Peru Outreach Team to help change the lives of many people through your tax-deductible contribution. It will be shipped to Peru in July.

For pick up, please contact:

St. Paul Church — Genesee Depot, WI at
(262) 968-3865 or email deb_passino@yahoo.com










































The New Patio at St. Clare PRONOEI School



Last year’s Lenten collection provided the funding for a patio floor for the St. Clare School PRONOEI School. This school helps 3, 4 and 5 yr. old children prepare for elementary school. The concrete floor was installed in February, 2014. The children can now dance, sing and play on a concrete pad rather than sand and gravel. Thank you!!

The PRONOEI school is located in a very poor area of Paita, Peru. The average wages are approximately $247 per month. Many of the people don’t have electricity, plumbing, or water. Water  must be purchased by each household from a delivery truck.







We Need You Old Prescription Glasses and Reading Glasses



Is it hard for you to read a page in the newspaper if you don't use your reading glasses? For those of you who are very near-sighted, the first thing you do in the morning before you get out of bed is reach for your glasses. Isn't that correct? Why don't you give others an opportunity to finally see without having to squint or struggle.

If you're a St. Paul Parishioner or live around our community, please recycle your old prescription and reading glasses. The medical team will be taking the glasses with them on their trip to Peru in June. If you miss this deadline, they will also be sending them down at the end of the year. There will be a box in the Gathering Space for drop off or stop at the parish office.