Dr. John Gray, Fr. James Herring, O.Praem,
Fr. Rod Fenzl, O.Praem, Fr. Lambert Baeten, O.Praem
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Local Physician, St. Norbert Abbey Prior visit Norbertine mission in Peru
Date: April 1, 2008
John Gray, MD and Rev. James Herring, O.Praem. recently returned from a medical trip to the Norbertine Mission in Santa Clotilde, Peru. There, they assisted Rev. Jack MacCarthy, O.Praem., Norbertine physician and Director of the Santa Clotilde Medical Center and the late Rev. Lambert Baeten O.Praem., former Mission pastor.
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The Santa Clotilde Medical Mission is located in the lowland jungle of northern Peru along the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon, near the Ecuadorian border. The journey to reach the Mission from De Pere takes three days with the final leg being a six hour - 200 mile boat ride from Iquitos, Peru to Santa Clotilde.
Dr. Gray, a family practitioner at the Aurora Clinic in De Pere is also the primary care physician for a number of Norbertines. Through his relationship with the Norbertine Fathers, he became aware of their medical mission in Peru. He accepted their invitation to visit the mission in order to assist Fr. Jack in any way possible, but also to assess the clinic’s needs and determine just how the De Pere medical community could also support this dynamic mission. The first night of his arrival in Peru, Dr. Gray assisted with an emergency cesarean section. He also treated many children throughout his stay including a number with whooping cough. “I find it remarkable how Fr. Jack is able to perform medical procedures with little or no available technology-- yet patients consistently receive quality medical care,” shared Dr. Gray. Fr. James agreed, “Fr. Jack not only diagnoses, but also performs surgery and oversees the entire clinic. “The clinic and 20 bed hospital is extremely busy, with over 22,000 visits annually.
The mission was established by St. Norbert Abbey over 40 years ago at the request of Pope John XXIII. At that time, religious orders were asked to develop missions throughout Latin America. They have
continued to support this medical clinic and parish throughout the years with pastors, medical personnel, medicines and equipment. The Norbertines not only work with the medical needs of the Peruvian community, but also support the spiritual needs as well. Sadly, Fr. Lambert Baeten, pastor of the Norbertine mission, recently passed away on March 20, 2008. He not only served the 2500 people of Santa Clotilde, but also the people living within 20,000 square miles, ministering to the people deep in the jungle.
“After two visits to our Peruvian mission, I have developed a deep, deep appreciation for missionaries. Those who offer their services in the developing world, have a very special calling,” remarked Fr. James. “Fr. Jack and the late Fr. Lambert are just two of the Norbertines who have served in missions around the world. These men are selfless, compassionate members of our community and are beloved among the people they serve.”
“This trip was fascinating and certainly gave me a much better understanding of life in the developing world and the challenges of staying healthy,” remarked Dr. Gray. “Given the quality of medical care offered by Fr. Jack, it is easy to understand why he is so revered among the people he serves, as was Fr. Lambert. I have also come to appreciate the generosity of the Norbertines as well as the donors who support this rural medical clinic and I look forward to finding ways for our De Pere medical community to support the mission as well.” When asked if he would return to Peru, Dr. Gray emphatically stated, “Absolutely!”
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