Father Joseph Walijewski’s heroic and priestly zeal impacted all he encountered. As a missionary within the Diocese of La Crosse, Bolivia and Peru, he established parish churches, soup kitchens and the Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II Orphanage. Today, his spirit lives on in the children who call Casa Hogar home, inspires missionary acts near and far and calls us all into action as lay faithful mission trip volunteers, benefactors, and prayerful warriors.
As Padre Jose’s cause continues to be investigated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, members of the Church find inspiration in his work and prayer. Here, in our own diocese, 12 priests are enrolled in the inaugural Pastoral Leadership Development Program. This program, a partnership with Viterbo University, aims to prepare our priests to become more effective leaders and administrators, calling on Father Joe’s entrepreneurial spirit to better serve the people of God. Across the diocese and around the world, we are called to be missionaries of Father Joseph Walijewski:
Theresa – Family Teacher Assistant at Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II
Theresa
Theresa has worked at Casa Hogar for almost 30 years as a family teacher assistant, serving the children and families in Peru. She counts each day and person she meets as a blessing and loves to share her history of Father Joe with all visitors to Casa Hogar.
“Father Joe had so much energy, life and passion for his work that it was hard to not be inspired by him. Even on my hardest days, he was there to uplift and remind me that we are all in the presence of God. Just look at what he did here at Casa!”
Consuela – Manager of a soup kitchen at Iglesia San Jose, opened by Padre Jose in Villa El Salvador
Consuela
Consuela first met Padre Jose in the early 1980s when he was serving the Villa El Salvador community. Many years later, Consuela became ill and her future looked to be bedridden for the remainder of her life. She prayed to Father Joe and his Intercession, which led to her ability to overcome and pursue. She now runs and manages a soup kitchen at Iglesia San Jose, opened by Padre Jose—purchasing, preparing and serving food to more than 50 people each day as a volunteer.
“I feel so blessed each and every day to work. It is this mission that keeps me moving and alive. If I was not serving others, I would be wasting away in my bed. Instead, because I believe in Padre Jose’s strength, my family and the family of God has become so much larger with those who we provide meals every day.”
Hannah – Volunteer from Casa Hogar and now a teacher at Hosea’s Heart in Swaziland
Hannah
A student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Hannah had always felt a calling to serve. She took a leap of faith on her first flight, traveling to Casa Hogar as a long-term volunteer in the summer of 2018. Learning more about Father Joe changed her life. After teaching math in the United States for one school year, it brought her back to Casa again in 2019 and now has her placed for two years at Hosea’s Heart in Eswatini, Africa. Hosea’s Heart is a home for young women founded by Mary-Kate Martin, a UW-La Crosse graduate and Wisconsin native.
“God is working in our lives and guiding us even when we don’t see it. We all have a calling to serve as missionaries in one way or another. I never imagined that my mission journey would lead me down the path it has.”
Story by Sarah Sceery – Published in the April issue of Catholic Life
Touched to the Tomb Prayer Cards and info
For more information on The Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild, upcoming events and supporting our efforts, please visit frjoesguild.org.
Since she was just 6 years old, Ena has called Casa Hogar home. Born in the jungle and moved to the Villa El Salvador Slum at 2 ½ to live with her Grandma, she came to live in a place where she could walk to school every day, a home with a playground outside, a safe and clean space to sleep at night and most importantly a house her older brother and sister also called home. Fast forward 11 years and Ena is preparing to Graduate from Casa Hogar in December as a leader of our house. She will finish her last year of high school at the top of her class, with a strong proficiency in English and 75% of a cosmetology certificate completed.
Ena’s story is not unlike her fellow Egresadas and hermanas, Flor and Marilyn. Each of the girls come from families of extreme poverty and lived in situations of high risk before coming to Casa Hogar. For Marilyn who witnessed domestic abuse and alcoholism growing up, Casa Hogar has become her second Family, “I am thankful to all the benefactors for the help they’ve given me. To allow me to study and finish high school. My Casa Hogar Family has changed my life completely…” She and her younger sister Ely visit their mom whenever Msgr. Hirsch says Mass in her community. Their mom runs a stand in a local market making the equivalent of $3.00 per day.
Flor has big dreams for her future and hopes to one day become a lawyer. “For me, Casa Hogar has meant everything in my life. At first when my Grandma told me I had to come live here because we had no money and I could not go to school, I cried every night. I did not want to leave and begged not to go. But now, after the years of being at Casa Hogar I have finished school, have a chance at completing a professional degree and can do things in my future…I know I am going to cry when I have to leave the Casa Hogar Family…”
Each of the young women have matured, developed and overcome their own challenges during their adolescent years with the love, strength and support of the Family Model at Casa Hogar. The little girls in the house look up to Ena, Flor and Marilyn and the staff depend on upon them. When they take they fly the nest, they will truly be missed by our community.
Although sad to see them go, we are excited about what their futures will hold. All three girls have been accepted into a program through Buckner Peru, a home for young women enrolled in academic or vocational programs to transition to independent living. Facilities will include room and board, job training, tutoring and mentoring. This year will the first for our partnership with Buckner and we are excited for the girls to pave the way for their future!
For Laura Pavela Castillo, Casa Hogar has held a special place in her heart since 1996. The third of six girls, Laura and four of her sisters have all taken impactful trips to Lurin, Peru. Her older sisters, Sarah and Jennifer were on the first Mission Trip led by Msgr. Hirsch followed by Laura and Amy in 1998 and Mary Beth in 2001. Growing up the Pavela girls have fond memories of Father Joe Walijewski at the orphanage and returning to La Crosse, exemplifying the simplicity, cheerfulness, and selflessness.
Now a mother of 7, Laura and her husband Sam live in greater Chicago and recounts her trip to Casa daily. “I am very thankful to my parents who gave me the opportunity to go on a Mission Trip, the impression the orphanage left on my heart has helped me in life as I am now a mother of many children of my own. Raising a young Catholic family in the U.S. is not easy with the pressures of society. I look back on my lessons learned from my Mission trip to Casa in 1998 to help me redirect what my focus is in raising my children now, teaching them to give their time in helping others brings true happiness.”
For the last 8 years the Castillo’s have sponsored Sara, a 13-year-old girl who lives at Casa Hogar. The children have written countless letters, exchanged holiday and birthday greetings and hold Sara in their evening prayers every night. This summer, Laura will travel back to Peru for the first time in over 20 years. This time bringing her husband and their three oldest children to meet Sara in person and experience what it means to serve at Casa Hogar, especially for her oldest daughter Lucia who shares some of the same family responsibilities as Sara.
This past October, Laura and her children experienced a piece of Casa Hogar in their hometown while providing support of a different kind. Director of Development, Sarah Sceery was running Chicago Marathon and it was the Casa Hogar Community that brought her to the finish line.
Up for the challenge but not ready to do it alone, during the five-month international training plan Sarah recruited children and Maestros at Casa as training partners. Instilling healthy habits of exercise and wellness, Sarah has taken the athletic abilities to new lengths at Casa. She has brought out the confidence of physical ability (and healthy stress reprieve!) in her running buddies.
On Race day, with 18 miles down and still 8 to go, exhaustion was starting to set in. Remembering who and what she was running for—the challenging backgrounds the children at Casa overcome, the countless smiles she’d encountered during training and encouragement from the Casa Community in Peru—she pushed on. Though they had never met, during their many conversations over the phone and email, Sarah knew that Laura was considering going out to watch the marathon for the first time. Working her way through the neighborhoods of Chicago with 40,000 of her closest friends and fellow runners it was a long shot that she’d spot Laura on the sidelines.
But, one of the biggest lessons we teach children at Casa Hogar is about not giving up and not losing faith. Laura who had been tracking Sarah during the race realized quickly that she had already passed. Rather than give up and cheer on the plenty of remaining runners who needed it, she packed up her things and started out up the sideline on a race of her own. Just as Sarah was about to turn a corner, she heard her name loud and clear. She turned to see Laura and her daughter jumping up and down with excitement, encouragement and joy. Filled with pride to be a part of the Casa Hogar Family, it was in that moment Sarah knew the finish line was easily in sight.
For Laura and her family, a trip to Casa Hogar means leaving a lasting impression. “I believe that the children who grew up in this orphanage, taught by Fr. Walijeski’s mission, that Casa Hogar is where the true, “rich” lessons of daily life are learned.”
A religious education class in Chesterton, IN decorated an Altar with a crucifix from the holy land, a photo of Fr. Joe and an icon painted by a priest from the Diocese of LaCrosse. With handmade rosaries in Peru, they offered prayers to Fr. Joe and learned more about his mission.
On March 19th, friends and family from the Diocese of La Crosse gathered around the world to celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph and Father Joseph Walijewski’s legacy. Twelve public St. Joseph’s Table’s events were held as various others came together in their homes to pay tribute to St. Joseph and honor Padre Jose’s life with inspirational stories and prayer.
Blessed Sacrament Parish celebrated the legacy and mission of Fr. Joe Walijewski with a feast given in thanksgiving for the many blessings that God has bestowed. It was a joyful occasion in which parishioners from Blessed Sacrament as well as other parishes gathered together reminiscing about different encounters with Father Joe and shared stories of his incredibly life.
St. Joseph’s Table is a long-standing Italian tradition ritual meal held on or close to March 19th during the Feast of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this celebration, families and friends come together for hospitality and nurturing in the making of fulfilling promise.
The day has a special significance to Fr. Joe and his family. Father Joe’s Mother once had a dream where she spoke with God that led to a special devotion for St. Joseph. In that dream she hoped for four things: 1. To have a son, 2. That he would be named Joseph, 3. That he would become a priest and 4. That he would open a Parish in honor of St. Joseph. She passed away on March 19th, the Feast of St. Joseph, fulfilling the prophecy.
Thank you to all those who participated this year, we look forward to establishing this tradition for many years to come in Fr. Joe’s honor!
Please help us spread the word and mission of Father Joe Walijewski through your prayers.
Join us for Mass marking the 6th anniversary of the opening of the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of Father Joseph Walijewski. Mass will be celebrated from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m on Sunday, March 17 at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral. If you are unable to attend the Mass, it will be available to watch LIVE at www.diolc.org/live
