Together, We’re Doing Christ’s Work.

In July 2020, Manuela Caceres was named as the new director of the Social Work Center and oversees the staff of more than 160 individuals. Manuela has been employed at the Center since 1982 and worked closely with the former director, Teresa Salinas Altuna, for many years. Her willingness to step up as director has enabled the Center to continue operating as seamlessly as possible under many stresses over these past few years.

Sr. Maggie grew up on a farm in Michigan as the 11th of 12 children in her family – a challenging but very fruitful and happy family life! She was privileged to be taught by the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, Michigan, for her primary and secondary education, joining the order upon graduation. As a Dominican Sister, she earned a BA from Aquinas College, graduated from Mercy Central School of Nursing and worked in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, for almost three years. Sr. Maggie was then called to study Midwifery with the Medical Mission Sisters at the Catholic Maternity Institute in preparation with joining our Sisters in Chimbote, Peru, to help establish a Maternity Infant Care Facility.

After receiving her certificate as a Certified Nurse Midwife in 1965, Chimbote became her home and her ministry. Sr. Maggie’s faith, family, friends and fidelity to her Baptismal and Religious vows have been the pillars of her religious life. “My professional life has kept pace with the changing times. But, the best classroom of learning has been the challenges and experience of daily living and serving the poor of Chimbote. My hope is that, as we continue to walk and serve together, God’s healing mercy and love will continue to touch the lives of His beloved poor.”

Sr. Maggie served in Chimbote for over 50 years until her death in April of 2023. She left behind a well-trained local staff that numbers well over a hundred people so that the new leadership, along with the new Bishop of Chimbote, are well-equipped to continue this important work for years to come. 

Sr. Lillian was born on March 15, 1938, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the eighth of nine children. Both grade school and high school were taught by the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters. After graduation from high school, Sr. Lillian entered the Dominican Sisters and attended St. Joseph School of Nursing. Upon receiving her nursing degree, Sr. Lillian worked in several Catholic missions, moving from Grand Rapids to Alberquerque and Santa Rosa New Mexico and to and El Centro California (starting her initial immersion into the Spanish language!).

In 1967, Sr. Lillian was commissioned to Chimbote Peru to serve as a catechist, nurse and mid-wife with the Dominican Community and the St. James Priests who had been serving in Chimbote since 1963. The dire needs of the numerous people living in poverty in the slums of Chimbote were immediately evident. Sr. Lillian’s role expanded over time to develop and lead the home visiting program, a critical piece of the services provided at the Maternidad, where the nurses travel to the slums of those unable to make it to the Social Works Center. As a practicing and coordinating nurse in the outpatient department, Sr. Lillian has fully lived the Gospel mission to take care of the least of our brothers. In all of her work until her retirement in 2023, Sr. Lillian consistently and compassionately brought to the people of Chimbote a true sense of hope and dignity in their otherwise impoverished world.

(From the Archdiocese of Lima)  Monsignor Ángel Ernesto Zapata Bances, O.C.D., was born on August 3, 1959 in Lima. He entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites in 1979 and made his solemn profession in 1986. He completed his philosophical studies at the Faculty of Pontifical and Civil Theology in Lima and the Baccalaureate in Theology and the Licentiate in Spirituality at the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum in Rome. He was ordained a priest on March 22, 1987.

He has held the following positions: formator and promoter of vocations at the Seminary of St. John of the Cross (1986-1993); formator at the International Theological College of his Order in Rome (1994-1997); Parochial Vicar of San Juan de la Cruz (1997-1999) and Superior and Formator of Postulants in Arequipa (1997-1999); Director of the Conference of Religious of Peru, CONFER (1999-2002); Parochial Vicar of San José in Lima (1999-2003); Regional Vicar of the Discalced Carmelites in Peru (1999-2005); Superior and Master of Postulants (2005-2007); Parish Priest of St. James the Apostle in Lima (2005-2008) and Superior of the Carmelite Community (2007-2008); Regional Vicar (2008-2010) and Commissioner of the Discalced Carmelites of Peru (2010-2016). From 2017 to date he is Superior of the Carmelite Community and since 2018 he has been Parish Priest of San José in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lima.

Since becoming Bishop during the summer of 2022, Bishop Ángel has taken an active role in the leadership of La Maternidad de Maria and the Center for Social Works.

Through their dedication, two long-term institutions were born that still thrive today: Mundo Major, the secondary school opened under the direction of Fr. Gerald Lutz; and the initial Maternity Hospital, which has grown from a two-bed “hospital” to the exceptional hospital and Social Works Center it is today.

The celebration of the daily Eucharist was focus of his life and neither earthquakes, floods nor terrorists ever clouded his vision to answer God´s call to serve the poor, the sick, the needy, the abandoned and the orphans. Padre Julio was tireless in his efforts which continued until his death in February of 2013. Under his guiding spirit, which remains constant in his absence, the Center continues to carry on his dedication bringing the Good News and the loving and compassionate medical, social and spiritual care to those most in need.

Based in New York, NY, Monsignor Kozar, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is the President of Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a papal agency which serves Eastern Catholic Churches in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Northeast Africa and India. This agency offers pastoral and humanitarian support to those who suffer and are persecuted on behalf of the Holy Father. Monsignor Kozar has been involved with the Chimbote Foundation from its very beginning and has served as the Chairman of the Peru Mission Dinner for 18 years, prior to moving to New York where he has worked since 2001. Monsignor Kozar has visited Peru with groups on more than 25 pastoral visits. As a former Mission Office Director in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, he has given many presentations about the mission presence in Chimbote, Peru. Monsignor Kozar continues to serve as a member of the Chimbote Foundation Board of Directors.

Monsignor Ronald Lengwin has been an officer and member of the Chimbote Foundation for many years. He is the Episcopal Vicar for Church Relations and the Chief Spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh. He also directs the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Mission Office, Catholic Relief Services and the Pilgrimage Office. He was inspired in this work by incredible stories about life in Chimbote told to him by Monsignor Jules Roos and Monsignor John Kozar for many years.

Eugene has been a Board member since 1991. His first contact with the Chimbote mission goes back to 1968 when he and his wife spent a year in Chimbote, working closely with Sisters Margaret Mary and Lillian, as well as with the late Monsignor Jules Roos. That experience helped shape a lifelong commitment to this mission. Following a career in development work at the World Bank in Washington, DC, from 1972-2000, he has maintained a close contact with Chimbote, visiting the Maternity hospital and its related activities on a regular basis and collaborating closely with other board members to help ensure its continuity.