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Our Story

About the Ministry

Since 1995, faith in action — serving the poor of Peru alongside the Sisters of Mercy.

"On my third visit to Peru I knew that is where I was being called to minister."

— Sister Immaculata

Why We Exist

Mission & Vision

Our Mission

  • ✦ To live out the gospel of Jesus
  • ✦ To serve the poor with compassion
  • ✦ To seek relationships of solidarity with them
  • ✦ To show respect for the dignity of people

Our Vision

A world in which the gospel is lived and alive in skilled, educated, empowered and transformed communities of faith.

Sister Immaculata

The Heart of the Mission

Sister Immaculata of the Sisters of Mercy has been the driving force behind the work in Peru since 1995. Her firsthand knowledge of the needs in Alto Trujillo and Mache, combined with her tireless advocacy, ensures every dollar donated reaches those who need it most.

She walks the sandy desert roads daily — visiting the Care Centers, the library, the families in crisis — and writes personally to donors each year to share news from the field.

"I give thanks to God every day for the health and energy to walk the sandy desert roads — and for the generous friends whose help makes all of this possible."— Sister Immaculata
Sister Immaculata
How It Began

The Founding of the Ministry

By Founder Ed Heemskerk

It was 10 pm one weekday night in 1994 and I felt a strong need to call Sr. Immaculata in Peru. She shared her immediate need for playground equipment and wrought iron fencing to keep the children from running into busy streets. Calls the following day to a few active Cursillo groups quickly produced the $2,500 needed.

A friend suggested we call ourselves the Ministry of the Good Shepherd. We applied for tax-exempt status, began keeping a list of donors, and Sister began writing her annual Thanksgiving Letter.

"God has been with the ministry from the very beginning. It has grown beyond our expectations and often develops a life of its own."— Betty Heemskerk, Co-Founder