by dioadmin | Jun 5, 2020 | News
May this letter find you and your families healthy and well during this time of the Covid-19
Global Pandemic. In just a few months, the world has been turned upside down. Yet in a time
when fear and uncertainty have the power to overtake us, we must remember that God has the
power to lead us. With God, all is possible. This is the message we share with our children and
vulnerable, He was with us before and He is here now.
These changes have allowed for us to come together as a community and become
spiritually united in our new virtual world. Like all missionaries and with the inspiration
of Fr. Joe Walijewski, we find ways to pivot to fulfill our mission. However, the changes have
not put a hold on our essential functions at Casa Hogar of delivering care, protection, love
and faith to the 72 children and families who call Casa home which we cannot do without
all of you. For those who are able to continue to support our mission, now is the time.
In Mid-March, the country went into a complete state of lockdown and the Family Teachers
at Casa Hogar have been on working nonstop to ensure all children stay healthy, active
and educationally engaged (including our new family!). With limited access to technology
equipment, we are facing challenges to keep up with academic needs. The government has
mandated that all schooling remain virtual through the end of the year, which is December for
us here in Peru. Some children had one week of classes while others had not yet started their
new year. Additional funding will allow us to increase the number of computers for virtual
classes, books and two larger printers for daily required worksheets. We also have 16 new,
smiling and beautiful faces in need of Padrinos (Sponsors)!
The community strength and influence of Fr. Joe Walijewski that lives within Casa Hogar
is now more important than ever. As the world continues to emphasize social distancing
for safety and protection of all those working hard to keep us safe, we must remember that
it is physically distancing but we remain socially near. Socially impactful. During the last
month, we have distributed 55 bags of powdered milk from Project Milk to the local area
homes and parishes. Rosaries with messages of gratitude from the children continue to be
given to public safety and health officials. There are also new virtual communities for the
Graduates of Casa Hogar and the biological families who need assistance or emotional
support. Every amount of kindness, act of goodwill and generosity goes a long way!
We are so grateful that our Mission was important to you prior to the pandemic and whether
it is today or any other day, know that you make a life changing difference for the children
and families here in Peru—providing faith, family and a future—Thank you!
If you are able to, please consider a gift. Together we can offer faith, family and hope
for the future. Know that you and your families remain in our daily prayers.
May God Bless You,
Msgr. Joseph Hirsch
Director, Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II
PS: To learn more about our new family and how Casa Hogar is doing their part,
please visit: https://frjoesguild.org.
by dioadmin | Dec 5, 2019 | News
With our school year coming to a close in Peru, there is an excitement in the air as we prepare
our house with advent stories, symbols and group activities to celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ. Christmas is a time of receiving, as well as a time of giving, where many of us feel called
to give of ourselves.
Inspired by Fr. Joe Walijewski’s mission, our children and families at Casa Hogar thread this into
their own lives—spending time at other houses, soup kitchens and serving in the community.
During this past year, we were graced with over 200 international volunteers and mission trips
visitors who travelled to Peru to give of themselves. They witnessed pain, strength, gratitude
and joy—and return home carrying these gifts to serve their own communities.
The children of Casa Hogar themselves carry a message of hope—overcoming challenging
backgrounds to become top performing academic students, musically talented and strong
advocates of their faith. As one volunteer described, “they literally have nothing, yet they have
everything.” All of this is only possible through your generosity!
Today, we are calling you to continue your investment in Casa Hogar so that we may continue
to provide the children, families and communities with a safe, thriving and loving environment
which they can call home.
We ask you to prayerfully consider a gift to Casa Hogar during this Christmas Season.
Together, we can offer family, faith and hope for the future.
May God bless you and your family,
by dioadmin | Apr 19, 2019 | News
When I was 6 years old, I moved to an unknown place filled with many other boys and girls. The
building had only been open for one year in a remote sub-district of Lima and was led by a man
named Father Joe. Little did I know during that difficult transition time, that place and that man,
Father Joseph Walijewski, would change the course of the rest of my life. My name is Alex Perez
and I am a graduate of Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II.
Today I work in the circulation and editing department at Diario El Comercio, the oldest newspaper
in Peru and one of the oldest Spanish language papers in the world. Thanks to donors like you,
I gained the skills, development and family influence at Casa Hogar which therefore allows me
to take part in shaping the influence of media in Peru.
At Casa Hogar we were guided, motivated and held accountable for responsibilities that have
served me throughout my personal, professional and family life. Without you, the love and
environment of the Casa Hogar Community, I would not be where I am today. The work carried
out by the Maestros is true service to help children of extreme poverty overcome social problems
while developing ethical, moral and religious values that shape their future. Grateful for this
home and the testimony of Fr. Joe’s life—filled with a great deal of affection and admiration for
his vocation—I have tried to follow by example.
I often recall Father Joe with the Bible Passage ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40). This past
December my colleagues and I visited Casa Hogar for a Christmas Celebration. In the future we
hope to continue to find opportunities that generate support, share the mission and make the
important work of Casa sustainable for generations to come.
It is through our collective investment of time, love and financial resources that we can change
the course of life for the children who call Casa Hogar home—giving them hope for a strong future.
With the school year just beginning in Peru, I ask you to please join me in supporting Casa Hogar
and living out Father Joe’s Mission.
Blessings,
Alex Gustovo Huayta Perez
Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II ‘Egresado’ 1999
by dioadmin | Dec 6, 2018 | News
The Christmas Season often brings feeling of joy and happiness. Here at Casa Hogar, there is an excitement in the air as we prepare our house with advent stories, symbols and group activities. Christmas is a time of receiving, as well as a time of
giving, where many of us feel called to give of ourselves. We reflect on Jesus’s words in that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
Over the years, Fr. Joseph Walijewski’s mission has inspired so many to ask how can I help—leaving a legacy that impacts communities at home and around the world. Inspired by your generosity, our children, families and staff at Casa Hogar thread this mission into their own lives—spending time at other houses, soup kitchens and in the community.
“ At Christmas and throughout the year we receive many gifts from all the good and generous people like you and those acts help us to see the love of God. It is also good to recognize that not only are we the needy ones. Because there are more people who lack help during the holidays, we visit other houses that have less than us to share our gifts of time, music and love.” –Ena, age 15 pictured with microphone
We are calling on your help in order to continuing giving to the children at Casa Hogar and to provide a safe and loving environment for these young minds to thrive.
During the 2018 year our house saw many changes, challenges and of course, chaos. We were reminded that it is only because of your support that we are a home, family and foundation for those who have nowhere else to go.
We ask you to prayerfully consider a gift to Casa Hogar during this Christmas Season.
Together, we can offer family, faith and hope for the future.
May God bless you and your family,
Msgr. Joseph Hirsch
by dioadmin | Jun 11, 2018 | News
Since last time I wrote many there have been a number of changes. Jordan Zoroufy is now back in Wisconsin. We are so thankful to him for the dedication he gave to the Casa community both in Peru and the United States. Taking his place is Sarah Sceery, who came to Casa on a mission trip several years ago. Having worked for a number of years in development in the Boston area she comes to us with great energy and expertise. Everyone who meets her has told me that they are very excited to work with her and find her to be the ideal person to carry on all that Jordan has been helping to do.
In May, there was a very important step forward in the canonization process of Father Joe Walijewski. Bishop Callahan celebrated a special Mass at the Cathedral where we officially sent to Rome the transcripts of 40 interviews of people who knew Father Joe the best. These were individuals from Wisconsin, Michigan and other parts of the United States as well as Bolivia and Peru. Now, the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints in Rome will begin the next stage studying the documents that summarize his rich life. One component of this phase is the documentation of two miracles. For us at Casa, we believe that we have already witnessed several distinct answers to prayers and this motivates us even more to continue to pray asking for Father Joe’s intercession for the challenging situations of people that are part of our mission. Hopefully soon we will call him “Blessed”.
At Casa, we recently welcomed two new couples from Venezuela this spring as family teachers to take part in our mission. Luis, Yuliana and their son Aron share a few words about their transition on the reverse of this letter. It is through the work of Luis, Yuliana and all those who support our mission back at home that we are raising the next generation of mothers and fathers, developing young minds and providing hope.
This time last year, thanks to the support of so many generous benefactors like you, we were able to purchase an oven and now bake our own bread at Casa Hogar. Not only does this supply our everyday breakfast, it allows our children to develop technical skills that can lead to a sustainable career in the future. Two graduates have moved on to culinary school and several are considering becoming bakers!
As we look ahead to the future of Casa, our home is need of upgrades and repairs. The foundation built and started by Fr. Joe Walijewski back in 1986 still stands strong today, although it requires a great deal of upkeep to maintain a safe, healthy and clean lifestyle for our children. In order to provide these resources to develop faith, family and future for all children, we rely on your support and ask you to consider Casa Hogar in your own missionary spirit.
Thank you so much for all you have done and continue to do to help give hope to our children at Casa. Only with much faith in God’s providence and in close collaboration with you can we do this work which the Lord began with Father Joe Walijewski and now entrusts to us all.
Wishing you and your family a warm and blessed summer.
In Christ, Msgr. Joseph Hirsch
