05/19/2020
2020 Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II Mission Trip Update
In April, the 2020 Mission Team was forced to cancel our June 2020 trip to Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II orphanage in Lurin, Peru. Initially, the hope was that the trip would just be postponed a month or two. Unfortunately, as we find ourselves still in the midst of the COVID-19 restrictions, we realize it would not be safe to take our teens and adults to Peru anytime this summer. This fact was sadly shared with the Mission Team and all were very disappointed. Our disappointment was short lived though, as we were able to talk about plans for a trip in the future.
First, and this is something our group is very proud of, at the encouragement of Fr. Martin, we voted to give a $1100 donation to Casa Hogar from the money that was raised. This comes at a crucial time as Casa Hogar finds themselves trying to live through the changes that their Coronavirus lockdown has made for the children and the staff. Many unforeseen costs have arisen within their restrictions, some of those are: making room for employees to stay at Casa Hogar as they are not allowed to go between work and home, the shortage of computers for the virtual learning and the increased food costs due to having more mouths to feed for more meals. Msgr. Joseph Hirsch has recently been fundraising on Facebook for these increased costs and to help the 16 new children that were taken in from another orphanage earlier this year. As such, this donation comes at a good time for them. They are very grateful for the generosity of our parish and team members.
Second, all Mission Team members will be able to use the money that they have earned for a trip to Peru in the future. There are two options that are less than a year away: 1) In January 2021 the Diocesan supported Optical Mission hosted at Casa Hogar can be attended (this is for adults only). This January option will work better for some of the team members that will be in college at that time as it will be during their winter break. 2) The team has been approved by Casa Hogar for a March 2021 Mission Trip during Spring Break, which falls during Holy Week. This is especially poignant as Fr. Joseph Walijewski’s last Mass was Palm Sunday 2006 and he died just two days later. The life and generosity of Fr. Joe is greatly felt during Holy Week by those living at Casa and in the entire community of Lurin. To take our group at that time will offer something that going at any other time simply cannot. Of course, if any member cannot join either of those trips, we will be going to Casa Hogar again in June 2022 for our usual trip scheduled every two years.
Where does that put all of your generous donations? The items that Casa requested are greatly needed and will be sent with individuals or Mission teams as they go to Casa over the next year. At this time, Casa has three long term volunteers that are still trying to go this summer. The food items and coconut oil for teeth brushing will hopefully be taken by them. The other items, will be sent on a priority basis given to us by Casa. Anything that remains will go with the group when we take our trip in March 2021. As far as the monetary donations given to our group, that will all be given to Casa as part of the $1100 donation mentioned earlier.
God willing, our Mission Team hopes to plan a clothing, first aid and supplies drive again in the Fall to gather the remaining items that are still needed at Casa. Until then, any donations that you planned to send to Casa can still be dropped off at the Parish Center or the Religious Education office. They will all be stored and be ready to go to the children as soon as possible.
Finally, thank you for your support of the teens and chaperones for this trip. This world changing pandemic is nothing that anyone would have ever expected, but one that we have worked through as a group. Our team has grown together over the course of the last nine months and we will continue to stay committed to the children and mission of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II.
In Jesus through Mary, Noel Furger, Tyler Lang, Corina & Alejandro Ramos, Mary & Daemon Kitzrow, Jasmin Ahles, Grace Boller, Sabrina & Samantha Cicha, Taylor Crass, Taylor Haroldson, Brendan Loos, Victoria Multani, and Diana Sandoval.
