Stamford Catholic heads abroad for God

For Peggy Vamosy, walking in the footsteps of God did not come in an epiphany or a single standout moment in her life; it has always been part of her.

"I think I've always been interested in working with the poor and walking with the poor," she said.

Ms. Vamosy, after just completing her orientation for the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, will now be taking her dedication to God's message across the globe to East Timor, a country in Southeast Asia which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002.

The largely Catholic country was in the minority, ethnically and religiously, in Indonesia, which is predominantly Muslim but also has large pockets of other minorities. Much of Indonesia, however, suffered decades of oppression from a military dictatorship. East Timor was long a human rights cause among Catholic bishops and peace activists.

Fresh challenge
Only six years into nationhood, East Timor faces serious barriers to overcome poverty and establish democratic institutions. 

Ms. Vamosy hopes she can be a part of it. "I'm hoping to be somewhat helpful," she said modestly. "But I know that I'll learn a lot from the people there."

Maryknoll Lay Missioners is a Catholic organization that works with poor communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America as well as North America, making improvements in civil and human rights, and educational, economic, environmental, and healthcare development. Lay missioners usually commit to several months of training and then a multi-year term of service. 

For decades, people like Ms. Vamosy have been part of growing swell of lay vocations in foreign lands. Indeed, more of the laity head abroad each year than do priests or nuns, according to the United States Catholic Mission Association.

Ms. Vamosy, of Stamford, will leave Jan. 5. She will spend the next three and a half years of her life responding to the people of East Timor's needs. Her main focus will be on food, as she will be working with agriculture. To her, producing food for the citizens is not only a means of help but it also provides people with pleasure and satisfaction.

"If it's a matter of starving or not, it can be very exciting," she said. "Knowing that we're there to help them is a great feeling."

The thought of traveling overseas and being away from her home for three years did not seem to bother Ms. Vamosy. In fact, she embraced it.

"I'm looking forward to it so much," she said excitedly. "And I'm really happy to be going with Maryknoll. It is going to be such a [blessed] experience."

It will not be the first time Ms. Vamosy has traveled outside the United States to serve others. In the past, she has spent time in Latin America volunteering for the Peace Corps and working with a Catholic parish in Honduras. "I absolutely loved it," she said.

Serial vocations
She also acknowledged that her experience in Latin America played a role in her accepting the trip to East Timor.

In terms of working with the Church, Ms. Vamosy stressed her wanting to help.

"I feel very committed to the role of laity," she said. "The laity has a big role in the Church today."

She encouraged fellow Catholics to find vocations along many avenues.

"God opens many doors to us, and we may have to open and close a few doors before we find the right one. But we can find a wonderful opportunity to respond to God's call."

(1/8/09)