Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor
In 1992, Bishop Jose Grullón Estrella founded FUNDASEP, the social outreach of the Catholic Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana. Since then, Bishop Grullón and his team have transformed thousands of lives by working hand-in-hand with them to build roads, bridges, schools, homes, and clean water systems.
This year, Cross Catholic Outreach is partnering with Bishop Grullón to continue God’s work by building six clean water systems – benefitting 813 families – and constructing 24 new homes. Join us to make a profound difference through this ministry.
Your Gift Will Make a Difference
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He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
Psalm 78:15-16
Dominican by birth, Bishop Grullón struggled as a boy to gather water for his family. As a Bishop, he would often tour the countryside while riding on a mule, which earned him the nickname, “the backpack bishop.”
He visits poor families on missions of mercy, often sleeping on the dirt floors of their shanty homes. Bishop Grullón has made himself a living sacrifice to the poor, drawing on his humble upbringing to make meaningful relationships with the poor. He is truly a nurturing mentor, teaching his flock to love and serve each other.
This year, we are collaborating with Bishop Grullón to achieve a specific goal – build six clean water systems – benefitting 813 families – and construct 24 new homes.
The clean water systems will feed fresh water to 15 different communities; while the new homes will provide much-needed protection from hurricane-force winds.
THE PROJECT
Six new clean water systems will be built by local work brigades as part of our shovel-ready empowerment strategy. The systems will use a combination of gravity, electric and solar power to collect water from a spring or well. Pumps, tanks, miles of PVC pipes, and filters will then distribute the clean water to local homes. The impact of clean water is immediate – reducing waterborne illness, easing the labor burden on women and children, and helping farmers irrigate their land to improve the volume and variety of their crops.
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
FUNDASEP uses a low-cost, durable design that has proven effective in sheltering poor Dominican families and withstanding powerful storms. Each of the 24 new homes are:
- Two or three bedrooms.
- Constructed from a prefabricated aluminum frame into which concrete plates are set.
- Designed to survive earthquakes and 120 mph winds.
- Sealed against water leaks.
- 60% less expensive than concrete & rebar models.
“If I have things such as clothes, the sacraments, the Bible, and the ability to read and write, it is my responsibility to share them with the poor.”
Bishop Jose Grullon Estrella
tHE IMPACT
On a hilltop in the dusty outskirts of Azua, Angel Salvador, his wife and four children live in a home that doesn’t stand up well to rainstorms.
Concerned for his family, Angel saved what he could and bought rebar and concrete blocks to build a better house. When emergencies arose, Angel found himself having to sell the materials to cover other expenses. Angel will receive one of the new homes through our partnership with FUNDASEP. When he heard the news, he was deeply moved and began to make room for construction and the new blessing.
Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2019, the close of our ministry’s new 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.
