Serving Families in Need

Gladis González is a child just like you. She loves her family, and she loves playing with her two sisters — but there is one thing that Gladis does not love: rainstorms.
Every time it rains, water leaks inside Gladis’ house. She wakes up with wet clothes and a soggy bed. The dirt floor inside her home turns into a big mud puddle and squishes under Gladis’ feet. Gladis often gets sick because of these wet conditions, but her family cannot afford a better home.

Gladis González lives in the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima with her parents and two sisters. Their home is made from hole-ridden metal sheets and rotten wood, and Gladis often gets sick in the wet and drafty conditions.

In the first reading from the Second Sunday of Advent, Isaiah writes about Jesus, saying that he will judge the poor with “righteousness” and “decide with equity for the meek.” This means that Jesus loves families like Gladis’ very much — and when he comes back, he will make things right for them. Until then, he works through people like you and me to improve their lives and offer them hope! When we serve families in need, we get to be Christ’s hands and feet, sharing his love with the families who need our help.

Father Raúl Monterroso, director of Caritas Santa Rosa de Lima, visits with the González family outside their current home.

Gladis’ father, Adán, holds her little sister, Maria Alejandra. Adán works hard as a laborer in the coffee fields, but he earns just a few dollars a day. By providing safe shelter, we can help him build a brighter future for his family!

Gladis’ grandmother lives with the family too. Without safe houses, children and the elderly often suffer the most. They get sick easily in the wet and drafty conditions.

Gladis’ family stands inside their home. The dirt floor turns to mud on rainy days, and there is no way to stop critters from coming inside.

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First Reading from the Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 11:1-10 (NRSVCE)

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Take Action: House Hunters

Look for the following words in the Bible, using the index in the back as needed. In five minutes or less, see how many of these scriptures you can turn to and read aloud. Have your parent or sibling place a coin in your collection box for every scripture you find, or make a donation below.

House • Home • Dwell/Dwelling • Build/Built/Builder • Stone • Live/Living • Hammer

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Learning Corner

For every five people in Guatemala over age 15, one of them has not learned to read or write. Without education, people cannot find higher-paying jobs — and without better jobs, they cannot afford safer homes for their families.

Poor living conditions can make it difficult for children like Gladis to finish school. Many boys and girls are unable to sleep through the night as rainwater soaks their beds and damages their few school supplies. Without a safe place to rest and study, some students fall behind in class and quit going to school altogether.

*Fact Source: CIA World Factbook

Family Discussion

1. Think about your home or apartment. Remember how safe you felt in a storm, or how cozy it is to sleep on a clean bed at night. List some things you like about your home and take a moment to thank God for them.

2. If you had no money or tools, what kinds of items would you use to build a home? You can only use materials that you might find outside or at the local junkyard.

3. Where do you think children in houses like Gladis’ do their homework? Do you think it’s hard or easy for them to finish their homework in the houses they have right now?

Pray Together

Dear Father, thank you for our homes, and thank you for the chance to learn more about the needs of other families. As we work to help families in Guatemala, please help us feel your love for the poor and share your love with them.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures incurred through June 30, 2023, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.