Rev. Joseph Uhen a native of Milwaukee, who grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Notre Dame '80 has been a diocesan priest incardinated in the Archdiocese of Piura, Peru for 14 years.  He is the pastor and only priest at Santísimo Sacramento Parish in Piura and cares for 35,000 faithful.  There are 26 different chapels throughout the parish and besides the 6 Masses every weekend at the main church there are 7 or 8 more Masses in those village chapels – standing room only.  Two retired priests, a Jesuit and a priest from Opus Dei help him do the 13 or 14 weekend Masses. About 12,000 faithful attend Sunday Mass according to a recent census. Though the monthly pastoral council is made up of more than 80 catechists and group leaders throughout the parish, a solid team of 20 key staff members has been assembled to fulfill the impressive work of reaching out to the most needy in this poor desert region 600 miles north of Lima and about 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean. 

When the Shining Path guerillas were threatening the Church as they brought terror and death to more than 45,000 Peruvians (including a dozen priests and religious), Fr. Uhen felt the call to serve in Peru.  After finishing biblical studies in Jerusalem and theological studies in Rome he landed in Piura.  Fr. Uhen has taken advantage of his grade school, high school and university ties to involve people in the United States with the work among the poor in Peru.  For the past 10 years 10 high school youth groups, 9 medical missions, dozens of parish mission groups, numerous university volunteers, and many families have journeyed to Piura to help build homes, breakfast kitchens, chapels and class rooms in poor barrios.  Together with the parish workers they have delivered food to the needy, clothing to the poor and joy to orphans.  Fifty five homes were built for the neediest families last year (a bamboo grass home costs about $450.00 to build).  Twelve hundred children receive oatmeal and bread 6 days a week from the 13 parish breakfast kitchens.  About 40 elderly shut ins are brought food supplies (and the Eucharist) each week.  Two dozen students of all ages receive scholarships to continue their studies.  Medical treatment, wheel chairs and crutches are provided constantly.

Perhaps the most interesting program that has been established is the Family to Family Program.  More than 1350 families in the United States have been connected to a family in a poor barrio in Piura and the number keeps on growing.  The North American family provides $25.00 worth of rice and lentils and blankets, etc. each month to the needy family in Piura.  Letters are exchanged, photos are sent, a relationship is established.  Prayer, hope, courage, triumph, communion transcend the cultural, geographical and economic differences.  Essentially, a life giving Eucharistic bond is established.  Some North American family members have traveled to Piura to meet their Peruvian family and some have even slept in their humble homes.