Since 2006, teams of medical personnel have spent one week serving the health needs of the poor in Guatemala. These teams consist of people from different medical backgrounds and come from parishes all over the State of South Carolina. But because the needs of the people in Guatemala are so great, we decided to develop a sponsorship program that we call Project San Pedro to serve not only the medical needs, but the educational, nutritional and housing needs of the poor. This is an opportunity for those who cannot personally go on a week-long medical mission to participate in this missionary activity.

We collaborate with priests, sisters, and lay people in various parishes in Guatemala where the needs are great. Project San Pedro is set up to insure that children who often end their education prematurely to help support their families, are able to complete school. They are given financial assistance to pay the small tuition charged at Catholic schools, are given nutritional supplements, clothing allowances and assistance to live in a safe and clean home.

Where Catholic Charities is invited, deacons from our own diocese preach about Project San Pedro at weekend Masses throughout the diocese. The Social Gospel of the Church is presented, as well as the specific efforts being made to assist the poor in Guatemala. Parishioners are asked to consider making a commitment of sponsorship of a specific child. The priests, sisters and lay persons working with us in Guatemala insure that each child receives the assistance needed. Project San Pedro is especially interested in children being able to complete their education. Sponsors are asked to contribute $25 per month for their child. This amounts to less than the price of a cup of coffee a day – but with benefits that are hard to imagine for the child’s future.

But sponsorship is not just about giving money. Financial assistance is necessary but not a sufficient means to encounter Christ whom we meet in the poor. Project San Pedro hopes to nurture a relationship between the sponsor here in South Carolina and the sponsored child. In order to do this, we ask sponsors to write to their sponsored child when they can. This allows the child living thousands of miles away to know that there is someone here in South Carolina who cares about them. In turn, our Project San Pedro collaborators insure that sponsored children keep in regular contact by letter with their sponsor here in the USA. Letters are coordinated through our Catholic Charities office in Charleston.

What we need, of course, are sponsors. So, if you are interested in sponsoring a child, click on the page below that says: See Our Children Who Still Need Sponsors, identify the name and ID number of the child you wish to sponsor and then click on the page that says: Sponsor a Child.

If you are the pastor or administrator of a parish, your help is also greatly needed! Deacons from the Diocese with faculties to preach are prepared to come to your parish, to serve at the altar for all Masses, preach the homily and invite people in your parish to become involved in the missionary work of the Catholic Church by becoming a sponsor. Or, if the pastor prefers, a brief presentation could be made after Communion. What is most effective is having the opportunity to address large groups of Catholics at one time.