Gerald’s mom was left to raise four children when their dad deserted them. Her only source of income was a vegetable garden. Most of the food went to feed the family; any extra she sold to buy basic necessities.
“Go and make disciples of all nations!” is the message of the 28th World Youth Day, which will take place next July. In this upcoming event, the Holy Father will inspire young people to take their knowledge of God’s Word and use it to build a better world than we have today.
Fifteen-year-old Choeurline is one of the lucky ones. Or shall we say, truly blessed ones. Her family of 10 all survived Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake. That’s one blessing. They lived more than a year in a tent camp but moved back into their damaged Petionville home because they deemed it safer than the crime-ridden camp. That there was enough of their house left to go back to is blessing number two.
Meet Sebastian! He’s a 2nd grade student at La Buena Esperanza, a Catholic-run primary school that’s been partnering with Cross Catholic Outreach to serve very poor families in the dusty shantytown of Villa El Salvador, Peru.
A student enjoying her lunch at Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque Viejo, Belize. Support from Cross Catholic Outreach ensures that economically-disadvantaged children at the school are fed a nutritious daily meal, so they’ll have sharp minds and healthy bodies.
As the kuya (eldest brother), John Allen plans to bring his family with him as he climbs the ladder out of poverty. Sure enough, through a scholarship from Cross Catholic Outreach he is gaining skills at Don Bosco Technical School that will soon benefit his entire family.