Sister Regina's Blog

Sister Mary Regina Matulka, our former principal of St. Matthew School, has been reassigned to a school in Callao, Peru in 2006. This space is dedicated to her as she keeps all of us up to date with her new adventures. Check this page often for her latest updates. You can send her an email message by . She can also be contacted through:

Convento San Antonio
Saenz Pena 1330
Apartado 34
Callao 1, Peru, S. A.
Telephone # 011-51-1-429-4890
Remember, she is one hour behind us.

If you wish to send her any packages, the name on the package must match the name on her passport exactly "Mary Regina Matulka", otherwise, she cannot receive it from the post office.

LABOR DAY

May 1st is a national holiday in Peru, the day of the worker. We had a very nice tribute to our workers at the school complete with an assembly, dances, gifts, food, and of course palabras. During my time here, I have come across people employed at some very unique jobs as well as ordinary jobs done in an extraordinary way. I have been taking pictures but many a time I wish I had my camera for that once in a lifetime shot. One that I remember in particular was a man in our neighborhood riding a rusty old bike loaded down with yellow Plaza Vea bags full of plucked chickens. All the chicken feet were sticking up out of the bags, a true Kodak moment missed. However, I do have a few favorites.

Demolition Crew The Ice Cream Man
I love the hats and the duck call whistle that goes with it!

THE BIG 50!

Here in Peru special events are celebrated in a big way, especially the BIG 50! Thought I would share a couple of my favorites; the "for every important occasion acrostic" written by the sixth grade and of course a picture of the birthday girl!

S uper thin R egina is not her real name

I mportant at E nglish teacher

S chool G ood singer and dancer

T elling us to be quiet I f she does something

E lvis is her favorite singer N obody can stop her

R adiant is her smile A nd...

WE LOVE HER!!!

For Latin America, the passion and death of Jesus is more widely celebrated than the Resurrection. From Holy Thursday until Good Friday noon the streets of Lima were full of pilgrims. The ancient tradition of visiting seven churches is said to have begun in Rome and was brought to the New World by Spain. In each church, the faithful pray for themselves, their families, and the needs of the world before the Blessed Sacrament. The pilgrimage from church to church recalls Jesus journey from the Last Supper to the Way of the Cross and Crucifixion.

SOUTH AMERICAN CAMELIDS

So how's that for the title? Since we are back in school I thought a lesson would be appropriate. We probably all know there are two members of the Old World camels, the ones with one hump and the ones with two humps. But did you know that there are four members of the New World camels in South America? They have long necks like the camels but no humps. They also do well in dry climates due to their ability to conserve their body water. These animals are the llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and the guanacos.

Llama Alpaca

The four members are divided into two groups, the domestic species and the wild species. The native people domesticated these animals and bred them to develop the llama and the alplaca. The llama is medium sized and can weigh up to 300 lbs. They are pack animals but are also used for their meat and wool. The alpaca has a smaller figure, half the size of a llama. Their face is rounder than the llama and they have triangular ears. The alpaca dates back to the Inca Civilization and are used for their fine wool.

The vicuña and the guanaco are the wild species. The vicuña is the smallest of the four, weighing around 100 pounds. They are usually light brown in color and thrive in the mountain region. The guanaco is medium sized and thrives in the plains. Their wooly coat is tawny to brown and their face is usually grey. And don't forget, all are like the camel in that they are known to spit if aggravated so be on guard!

TRIP SOUTH

Recently I posted a picture of me getting into a plane without the story. Now for the story. The past July vacation I did some sightseeing with my grade partner to the south of Lima; to the cities of Chincha, Ica, Pisco, and Nazca. On August 15th the earthquake hit those very same cities. I now share with you some of the highlights of a memorable trip.

Hacienda San Jose

A trip to Chincha is not complete without a tour of the Hacienda San Jose. Beginning as a sugarcane plantation in 1688 with 87 black slaves, at its peak it was the largest hacienda in the area with over 1,000 slaves. The agrarian reform of 1968 dismantled most of Peru's vast network of haciendas leaving them to be sold and to deteriorate. Hacienda San Jose escaped the reform and continues today as a working hacienda as well as an exquisite hotel. Visitors can tour the intricate maze of catacombs and tunnels beneath the hacienda which were used to hide gold from the pirates and to smuggle in slaves. A reminder of the plantation brutality is the room where runaway slaves were punished and shackled.

The city of Ica is the wine country of Peru. Famous for its production of pisco, visitors can tour the two types of wineries; the industrial and Artesanales. There are three industrial wineries in Peru known to export fine wines and piscos. More common are the Artesanales or traditional bodegas which continue the use ancient techniques to produce wines. If you visit the end of February you can join the festivities of the grape stomping!

El Senor de Luren

Religious devotions are important to the people of Peru and can be found in every corner and every city. The people of Ica have great devotion to El Senor de Luren. The church was one of the many buildings destroyed in the earthquake and miraculously the image survived. The church is in the process of being torn down with hopes of rebuilding in the near future.

The Huacachina

An oasis in the desert, the Huacachina is surrounded by palm trees and desert sand dunes. The warm sulfurous green waters of the lagoon are said to have medicinal properties. Legend says that when there is a full moon one can hear the sorrowful cry of a woman who decided to drown herself in the waters. For the most part, people come for the sand boarding, sand surfing, and sand buggy rides across the vast sand dunes.

Paracas

The only National Wildlife Refuge for the protection of bird and marine life in the country is in Paracas. Near the reserve are the Ballestas Islands, home to over 150 species of birds and a large number of marine animals. The area played an important role in the Peruvian economy during the mid-nineteenth century. The guano (bird droppings) was exported to Europe to be used as fertilizer. For many years this industry was Peru's most important source of revenue. Imagine!

El Candelabro

The Nazca plain is unique for its ability to preserve markings because of the arid climate (only 20 minutes of rainfall per year) and minimal wind at ground level. With no dust or sand to cover the plain and little water or wind to erode it, the dark desert surface leaves a mark for eternity. This unique marking can be viewed when taking the boat ride to the Ballestas Islands.

THE END OF SUMMER

Another summer has passed in Peru. I have to say this one went more quickly than the last one, as do the majority of the days now. Most of the time after the mission to Ica has been spent enjoying visitors and studying Spanish. Sister Patricia and Sister Ruth came from the Motherhouse to direct a retreat for us. It was great to learn more about our Alphonsian Heritage and the bonus - it was all in English! Sister Francis had visitors who stayed with us in Callao; her brother Father Joe, his friend Father Phil, and her sister Evelyn. It had been some twenty years since they had been here last and they were thrilled to be here again. Next time they will not wait so long to return. The final visitor of the summer was my friend Sister Luz from Chile. We packed as much as we could into our time together which included various Peruvian desserts.

I did manage to cross some items off my list of "things to do" this summer. I wanted to go to the Parque de la Reserva in Lima to see the famous fountains. The site is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the public park with the biggest and most fountains in the world. The fountains are viewed at night and are complete with lights, color, and musical images. I visited the Pachacamac Ruins and have come to the conclusion that I don't need to visit any more archeological sites of Peru. I wanted to get a picture of the Peruvian hairless dog for you to see. People tell me it is a very valuable breed but I think it is just plain ugly. And I saved the best for the last...I drove! It's only a beginning, the next time I will leave the parking lot

We're back from "the promised land". That is the name of the pueblito where we worked, Tierra Prometido, on the outskirts of the city of Ica. This year's summer mission to the desert was different from last year's trip to the mountains but equally rewarding. We arrived to find out that not only did these people suffer from the earthquake but now from the rains. The priest said the rains, which they never have in this area, may be even more devastating than the earthquake for these poor people.

We went with boxes and boxes packed with food, clothing, and materials for the people. We visited and blessed homes, prayed and worked with the families, and taught women and children what we could. There was a great amount of listening, some crying, lots of laughter and so much love. In the end, the things that be brought were insignificant, the material poverty is so immense. What we brought and shared with these people that will last far beyond the milk and rice were our smiles, our joy, our love, our faith, and the Word of God.

WE'RE OFF!

Well, not by plane but by a caravan of vehicles. This is really a picture of me getting into a four passenger plane (that included the pilot) to fly over the Nasca Lines which is a story I will save for another entry. For now, a group of twenty of us, Sisters and young women of our IHM schools in Peru, are off to a summer mission experience in the South. Our destination is Ica, one of the cities most devastated by the August 15th earthquake. (Click here for more on Ica). I will have many pictures and stories to tell you upon our return. Know that St. Matthew School and Parish will be in our thoughts and prayers each day. Your abundant generosity and goodness to God's abandoned poor accompanies us on this journey of love . Thank you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

One of the many traditions of Christmas is having a Secret Santa, Polly, or maybe you call them Advent Angels. Here in Peru the Sisters add a twist to the gift giving by incorporating a theme. This year our theme was Mary. How perfect it was to reflect on Mary, the mother of God, for "we are all meant to be mothers of God." Meister Eckhart "For God is always needing to be born", year after year, day after day. He is born in each of our lives in all that we say and in all that we do to bring Christ's love to others.

ADVENT

The time is here, the Lord is near! I must say that I am amused by the Church at times. It speaks of the hustle and bustle of this season and the hectic pace we keep to prepare for Christmas. And what do I do? I read my daily Advent reflections and my head spins. I am bombarded by messages and words of peace, joy, and hope. Preparation, anticipation, reconciliation, and contemplation. Coming, waiting, and lets not forget caring, sharing, and loving! I need one thought, one focus, one meditation. For this Advent it is awareness. To see the face of Jesus and live. A blessed Advent.

SISTER WISHES

As we are winding up another school year, the sixth grade is writing daily. Few writing assignments are complete in Peru unless they include artwork. I have to remind the girls each time that they will be graded for the quality of their writing, not their artwork. They do love to decorate their papers! The latest assignment was to draw their teacher and write their six wishes. I did ask the girls to make me look thin and beautiful and have to say they did a fine job!

HALLOWEEN IN PERU

Halloween and trick-or-treating is not part of the tradition of October in Peru. This month is dedicated to the Lord of the Miracles, "Senor de los Milagros". The colors are not orange and black but purple for penance. The 31st is not costumes and candies but a celebration of food and dance criolla. As Halloween is one of my favorites, I did have to hold a sixth grade party. All English of course! The girls had to prepare games for the first graders to play. They made a sign with the name of their game, the rules, and the directions. We decorated the classroom and wearing costumes was optional. The girls had a blast as did their teacher!

One of the most historically significant areas in the history of Peru, the city of Cajamarca lies in a valley of the northern sierra. It was here, in 1532, that the Inca Atahualpa was killed by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro and Peru became a Spanish colony. Much of the city reflects the Spanish influence in its colonial architecture.

Colina de Santa Apolonia - a steep walk which provides a beautiful view of the city

WELCOME SISTER LISA

The annual ex-alumna luncheon was another good time! We welcomed Sister Lisa to Callao amidst much dancing and laughter! I think she is adjusting just fine! I have to say I am thrilled that the activities are no longer "firsts" for me. It is a great feeling to know what to expect and not be in the dark about absolutely everything!

My sixth graders wrote and answered their own Dear Abby letters this week. Grading them has been the best laugh I have had since..... winning the dance contest Saturday at the luncheon! I would like to share my favorites.

One girl writes she wishes she could be the teacher's pet. (Extra points for using new vocabulary) The response, "You think that I'm a magic person?"
Another writes she is friends with one girl but not best friends. The girl follows her every recess. What should she do? Her classmate's answer, "you have to hide".
One student wishes she could surf. Her advice, "buy a surf table and surf!" (You're so close!)
And finally, one girl desperately wants a dog but her mother forbids it. Her classmate's advice, "ask for a baby brother and she'll get you the dog." How's that for a second language?!

EARTHQUAKE

I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to all for your thoughts, prayers, and support during these past two weeks. Thanks be to God that no one here in our local communities was hurt and that the convents and schools of our Sisters had minimal damage. Many cannot say the same. Nature is indeed a powerful force.

I have to admit I did not know what was happening initially. Sister Francis and I were leaving the kitchen and there was this noise and chaos. I asked what it was only to be told, "It's an earthquake!" I only saw the plants outside the community room shaking before the lights went out. Two other Sisters were yelling in the darkness and I made my way down the hallway to the senior Sister. I wanted to get down the stairs and outside but we stood in the door frame praying it would pass. More than two long minutes and many Hail Mary's later the building stopped shaking.

We made our way down the stairs and outside. What was more frightening for me than the earthquake was what I saw after - fear and panic. The streets were full of people trying to get to family members, fleeing their homes to seek safety, walking because they couldn't get transportation, and running from the ocean in fear of a tsunami. The following days were a blur of weariness, fatigue, lack of communication with the world, and fear.

For the most part, our lives here in Callao have returned to normal. We are still experiencing replicas and when I am still I continue to feel like I'm moving. Like all things in Peru, poco a poco. Over the past two weeks I have thought often about the cities and people of Chincha, Pisco, Paracas, and Ica. I had just visited there with my grade partner the week before the earthquake. Much of what I saw no longer exists.

There is a heightened awareness of life now.
A greater appreciation. A more generous spirit.
A more grateful heart.
And always, a loving God.

Church - processions, singing even if you have to make up the words, making room for yet one more in the pew.

PERUVIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY

July in Peru can easily be compared to December in the states. The month is full of activities, assemblies, celebrations, days off from school, and not a lot of quality teaching time in the classroom. We celebrated Peruvian Independence Day, the 28th, with a patriotic week in school! It was a time of singing, dancing, eating typical foods of the regions, cultural dress, parades, and fairs.

Sisters, family, friends, and benefactors gathered on July 21st at Villa Maria for a memorable occasion. It was a day to remember, give thanks, and praise God for the graces and blessings of the past 85 years of IHM presence and service to the people of God in Peru. A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated with joyful songs and grateful hearts. So many stories were shared of the love, commitment, and faithfulness of the Sisters who have gone before us as missionaries. May the missionairies of today always remember their stories with renewed dedication and courage as the IHM history continues to unfold each day in the lives of so many, both near and far.