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
by dioadmin | Mar 22, 2018 | News
Lent is a powerful time of year to reflect about the value of laying down our lives for one another. These acts of selflessness bring us closer to the Lord in our lives and also offer a ray of hope for others. The ultimate symbol of this is Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary for us. Father Joe Walijewski brought this powerful
symbol to the people he served in his mission work that began over thirty years ago at Casa. Christ is crucified in the poor. Do we recognize him? How can we lay down our lives to serve Jesus coming to us in those who have so much less than we have?
The children of Casa Hogar come from challenging and complicated backgrounds threaded with poverty. They often ask, where was God when I needed him most? Why was I placed in this situation where my family suffers
so much? If God is all kindness, why do I not seem to get it? Through your generous support, we can bring God’s presence into their lives, delivering love and light into their hearts. The resources we receive at Casa enable us to strengthen the lives of the children each and every day through education, moral and spiritual support. Our Project of Life program provides the tools necessary for our graduates to thrive as they transition into a life outside of Casa Hogar. Your impact can help to instill hope in these families and create the everlasting love that Christ meant for us all.
We ask you to prayerfully consider a gift to Casa Hogar during this Lenten season to enable Christ’s presence to some of those among us who need it most. Together, we can offer gifts to give faith, family and hope for the future.
May God bless you and yours.
In Christ,
Msgr. Joseph Hirsch
Executive Director
Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II
by Danelle Bjornson | Mar 13, 2018 | News
Join us for Mass marking the 5th anniversary of the opening of the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of Father Joseph Walijewski. Mass will be celebrated from 10:30a.m.-12p.m on Sunday, March 18 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
by Danelle Bjornson | Jan 29, 2018 | News
In 1955, Father Joe was the assistant pastor at St. Peter Parish in Stevens Point. He would soon return to his mission work in South America, but not before first touching a few lives here in the Diocese of La Crosse.
Wilma Reis was in high school when she decided to become Catholic and it just so happened that Father Joe gave her instructions in the Catholic faith. Wilma credits Father Joe as the reason she became a strong Catholic, having grown up in the Lutheran faith.
Wilma recently passed away from a long-term illness, but her daughter, Lois Slattery, said her mom shared her story often and spoke fondly of Father Joe and knew that he should be a named saint.
About five years ago Wilma decided that she wanted to sponsor an entire family at Casa Hogar, the orphanage in Peru that Father Joe founded. Lois said Wilma really enjoyed being a family sponsor and actually displayed her Casa Hogar family photo on her refrigerator and did not even have her own biological family photo displayed.
Due to her illness, she was homebound toward the end of her life and Lois said it always gave her mom such joy to receive the Christmas card and family portrait from Casa Hogar. Her family displayed her most recent Casa Hogar card and family photo at her wake service.
She had always followed Father Joe’s journey over the years and often said she wanted to become a sponsor because she thought that is what Father Joe would want her to do.
By Monica Organ
by Danelle Bjornson | Jan 22, 2018 | News
La Crosse parishioners made First Communion outfits for children in Bolivia
May 3, 1958 was a big event for Father Joe and his parishioners in Bolivia. They were planning the dedication Mass for the church in Santa Cruz, built using the $20,000 Lenten donation from the Catholic Students in the Diocese of La Crosse. Father Joe was also preparing 50 boys and girls for their first Holy Communion.
However, Father Joe soon realized there was something holding these children back from receiving their first Communion … clothes. Father knew that many would fail to appear for their First Communion out of shame and embarrassment if they did not have the proper clothing for the occasion. The families in Bolivia were so poor they couldn’t afford to give their children new clothes for such a special event. Father Joe was not going to let that obstacle stand in their way of receiving the Eucharist, so he reached out to his home diocese for help. He asked the people of the Diocese of La Crosse to help him “to bring closer to the altar the people who have been without the altar for so many years.”
Members of the La Crosse Council of Catholic Women made and shipped nearly 150 sets of First Communion dresses and suits and other articles of clothing, plus rosaries and medals to be used for this historic occasion.
