From Illinois, the following note from a priest:
The former Fr. Prevost was an assistant pastor at St. Jude in New Lenox for a time, not far from where we serve. It is an Augustinian parish.
The strong and firm consensus about him in this area is that he is smart, quiet, and kind.
***
The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) in North America has annual missions to northern Peru, especially in the city of Piura. There, they are warmly welcomed by an American priest, Father Joe (Joseph Uhen), of the Santísimo Sacramento Parish.
Father Joe, a beloved priest in the region for decades, as one of the few American priests in the vast and deeply Catholic area of Northern Peru, ended up being very aquainted with the life and work of Father (and later Bishop) Prevost. He shares his first reaction:
There is great excitement here that Pope Leo was a bishop in the neighboring diocese about an hour south of us. The deep Catholic faith known in Northern Peru is now sitting in the Chair of Peter as Pastor for the whole world. We know this faith and so do you. We have celebrated it together and it appears that the Eternal Lord has brought to the world, in Pope Leo, the grace of the Church in America so well known to us.
Though Pope Leo and I never sat down to chat, a greeting here or there occurred when regional events brought us together. Still, I feel like we are cousins!!! 😆😂😇 We are both U.S. born (70 miles apart) and have 30 plus years serving in Northern Peru as priests (and for him 7 years as a bishop).
Prayers and gratitude,
Padre Joe and the team at Santísimo Sacramento in Piura [Peru]
The images from the Chiclayo seminary under the then-bishop are quite interesting as well. It was full, and filled, with what seem to be very authentic vocations.
(By the way, the FSSP missions in Peru are in August, and if you are a young man interested in helping, you may go here.)
