Mayte Ramos

Born in Lima, Peru, I have been involved for many years in missionary work in Latin America, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. My academic background is in history, with a particular focus on Church history and the history of Christianity. Studying and teaching history has enriched my understanding not only of the past and present, but also of the human condition, with its fragilities, complexities, and capacity for greatness.

I am currently undertaking Higher Degree by Research studies with the University of Notre Dame Australia. My research focuses on the early Catholic Church in New Zealand, particularly through the letters of Father Victor Poupinel SM and the development of Marist mission structures in the nineteenth century. More broadly, my research interests include Church history, mission history, Catholic institutional history, the early Church, Latin American history, and the role of laity and women in the history of the Church.

I am passionate about history because it offers perspective, critical understanding, and a constant exercise in empathy and open-mindedness. It also helps us understand the Church not as an abstract institution floating gracefully above time, but as a human and historical reality shaped by people, cultures, conflicts, hopes, and decisions.

To relax, I enjoy drawing, reading, and anything to do with music: listening, singing, and dancing.