New Chapel in Talca, Virgen de los Pobres, now finished

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Above: Sister Eileen Smits thanks the many parishioners who worked tirelessly to finish the beautiful new chapel, Virgen de los Pobres, A labor of love, the chapel was completed in time for Christmas 2009. Top: The view from the outside shows the lovely brick work and design of the chapel.			Above: Parishioners raise high the Infant Jesus, gift of Bishop Horacio Valenzuela of Talca, as they process to the creche at Christmas. Top: An inside view of the chapel from the back looking toward the sanctuary. Creche is in front of the altar.

Sisters of St. Joseph in Chile since 1987

At the invitation of Don Carlos Gonzales, Bishop of Talca, Sisters Marie Loyola Sanders, Rose Mary Haley, Margaret O'Rourke, and Eileen Smits arrived in Chile in 1987. December 8 of that year marks the formal foundation day.

Their ministry has been one of living among the people to experience their reality. They have assisted in developing lay leadership in the parish of Virgen de Los Pobres by supporting lay initiatives of direct service to the elderly; they visit the sick and provide meals to the homeless during the months when employment is low.

To support the mission in Chile contact: missionoffice@csjcarondelet.org