Argentina: The households of Christ celebrate 17 years of prevention and attention of addictions

They are already receiving “life as it comes” in the neighborhood centers of the households of Christ, deployed throughout the Argentine territory. Therefore, with the purpose of thanking God for these years of experience and also to pray for the health of Pope Francis, the “big family” of the Hogar de Cristo congregated this Sunday in the Basilica and National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Luján.

With the joy of a birthday celebration, and carrying flags and banners, the members of this great family filled the home of the patron of the Argentines to participate in the Eucharist, chaired by Mons. Oscar Ojea, Bishop Emeritus of San Isidro.

The Mass the host archbishop, Mons. Jorge Eduardo Scheinig; The Archbishop of La Plata, Mons. Gustavo Carrara, known as the “Bishop Villero”; and the bishops of Merlo-Moreno and San Justo, Mons. Juan José Chaparro and Mons. Eduardo García, along with more than 50 priests.

Fr. José María “Pepe” Di Paola, referent of the Pastoral of Villas and Popular Neighborhoods, and one of the main drivers of the households of Christ, took the floor and said: “Today we are here to celebrate 17 years of life!, Happy birthday!”, “Long live the home of Christ!, Long live the Virgin!”

“We are praying, on this 17th anniversary, for Pope Francis that Pope Francis lives!” He added, starting a strong applause to those present.

When also celebrating the Holy Cura Brochero, the first Argentine saint, the priest took his model of service and delivery to the most needy and said: “We want to continue on the road in the neighborhoods, in the place where the Church has put us.”

The home of Christ, he said, “is the way of living the church that Pope Francis teaches us: a church in exit, a poor church for the poor.”

Within that framework, he recalled that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – today Pope Francis – when he served as archbishop of Buenos Aires, who gave “the initial kick to begin that task that we had been doing the priests of the villas and that he always accompanied until today.”

“Jorge Bergoglio also taught us to receive life as it comes,” he said.

“In a world where individualism, cruelty and save who can, the home of Christ raises the flag of the organized community,” said Fr. Di Paola, and recalled that that is why “we are interested in the lives of those who are more unprotected in each of the places where we live. Those fallen by the drug His house, a house that was enlarging, “he said.

Going to the Virgin of Luján, patron saint of the Argentines, said: “We will follow this path, a path of unity, to look from the humblest and poorest, work side by side with the brothers;

“If this is not the Church, where is the church?” Asked Father “Pepe.” “The committed, missionary church, which shelters the poorest, the church that says and the church that mission.

The celebration was the occasion to bless and send to the priest Carlos Olivero, of the Pastoral de las Villas, who will take to Colombia the proposal of the households of Christ in matters of addictions.

Also ten young people from different centers were sent to Bahía Blanca, where they will collaborate with those affected by serious floods from the homes of Christ, who have become “campaign hospitals” who provide assistance to those who are suffering the consequences of the storm.

Fr. Olivero then made the gesture of the feet wash to four referents of the households of Christ.

The celebrations continued with a lunch and a festival at the facilities of the Marista Villa de Luján.