Padre Gabriel Pinillos Assigned to Serve as Pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Friends of Chimbote welcomes Padre Jesus Gabriel Pinillos as the new Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) in Chimbote, Peru. Assigned by Bishop Angel Francisco Simon, Padre Gabriel (as he prefers to be called) began his new role on February 7, 2016. He replaces Padre Elmer Mendoza who has been assigned to a different parish in Chimbote.

Growing up in a neighboring parish to OLPH and dreaming, from an early age, of becoming a priest, Padre Gabriel began seminary in Trujillo at the young age of 17. After taking time to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he returned to the seminary and was ordained on March 8, 2003 in the Diocese of Chimbote.

He has served at three other parishes in the Diocese of Chimbote including the parish of Teresa of Calcutta where he had the opportunity to meet and be inspired by Mother Teresa. OLPH is the poorest of the parishes that he has been assigned and he is grateful for the programs that ACAF provides to empower his parishioners to move out of poverty.

In addition to his role as OLPH Pastor Padre Gabriel teaches religion at Santa Maria de Cervello Catholic School in Chimbote to students in secondary school. He enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his five older sisters and their families as well as his parents who are now in their 80’s.

Padre Gabriel looks forward to the partnership between OLPH, ACAF, and Friends of Chimbote in service to the poverty-stricken people residing in the 18 barrios that OLPH serves. He welcomes visitors through the Friends of Chimbote Mission Visit Program. He is grateful for the spiritual and financial support of numerous sister parishes and congregations throughout the United States and England. And while he does not speak English, he shares the unspoken love for the poor of his community that Friends of Chimbote supports.