Friends of Chimbote Mission Founders

Father Jack Davis

Father Jack Davis has served in Chimbote since 1975. His parish, Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish) encompasses more than 30,000 parishioners, the vast majority of whom survive on pennies a day. Born in 1942 in Devils Lake, ND and ordained as a priest in 1969, Father Jack has made ministering among the poor in Chimbote his life’s mission. In his time in Peru, Father Jack has performed thousands of funeral services for children and adults killed by preventable diseases, lack of health care access, violence and other poverty-related tragedies. He has been robbed at gunpoint, stabbed and targeted for execution by Shining Path terrorists. He also has spent thousands of hours traveling and speaking throughout the US and Europe to raise funds for Chimbote’s poor. Father Jack has earned the following awards and honors for his charitable work: Chimbote Citizen of the Year, the Touchstone Award bestowed by the US National Federation of Priest’s Council, the Peruvian Medal of Honor presented by the President of the Peruvian Congress and the Caritas Award from Catholic Charities ND.

Sister Peggy Byrne

Sister Peggy Byrne has served in Chimbote since 1982 and has been an ardent champion for the mission’s education programs. Born in Wexford, Ireland, Sister Peggy traveled to the US in 1954 at the age of 16 to become a member of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and took her full vows with the Presentation Sisters in 1960. She has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational administration. She was a teacher and principal in North Dakota before arriving in Chimbote. She earned the Caritas Award in 2011 from Catholic Charities ND for her charitable commitment to the people of Chimbote.