We feed, rehabilitate and love Argentina's forgotten

“For I was hungry and you gave me food I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; Naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see me.”

These words of Christ in St. Matthew’s are our foundation stone and motivation  in our work here in the Homes of Our Lady of Lujan and St. Teresa in Misiones in the north-east of Argentina.

The worst disearse in the world is the feeling of being unwanted, unloved and abandoned by everyone.

We are all conscious of our disabilities and we all need each other.

We attend Christ the Lord in one another.  This is a great honour and a tremendous responsibility.  We must constantly give our best.  Constant care and constant cleanliness are the hallmarks of our work.

We are part of the  Catholic Tradition (Roman) but our Homes are open to people of all creeds and none; and people of all creeds and non visit us to volunteer, and all are touched at how some of the residents least able to speak or communicate from day to day still show a care and affection or each other  that can be especially visible at times of prayer.

All of us, as a family, pray the Rosary with the Bible daily.  The celebration of the weekly Eucharist is the well-spring from which all aspects of our life receive meaning and inspiration.  Joy is very much part of our spirituality.  Humour is a saving grace; it is a safety valve  and a medicine.  By sharing it one may become a beacon of light in another person’s darkness.  We always try to choose laughter over irritation one will better.  And so will those around you.

Christ’s message is one of joy and hope.  He never intended us to be somber and morose in our pursuit of His will.  A cheerful heart is a good medicine (Proverbs 17:22)

My heart and my flesh sing for  joy to the living God (Psalm 84:2).

We’re slowly but surely getting there, with Hector’s help.  He is our man in charge of the grounds.  Many years ago, Fr Liam persuaded the city council to give him a large plot of land to build the homes.  That land used to be a dump.  Today it houses many abandoned people that are cared for in our Home.  There are also large fields around the house which are used to plant vegetables and fruit, keep hens and make honey.

We don’t just want our foundation to take hand-outs. But our ultimate aim is to be as self-sufficient as possible.

Currently we have: fruit trees (oranges, lemons, peaches, pineapples, bananas), vegetables (cabbage, spinach, carrots, potatoes, beetroot, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers), and we also keep hens for eggs.

Our latest proud moment was when Hector created his first batch of honey.  As our garden expands, we hope to start selling some of our excess produce. But for now, it’s sufficient to support the houses completely for fruit and veg during particular seasons.

A Helping Hand

UCC graduate and former president of the Student’s Union, Fr Liam Hayes, SVD, could have had an easier life than the one he chose.  Working in a remote region of Argentina with those suffering from chronic poverty and disability, he leads a group of volunteers that aims to make something meaningful of marginalized and often hitherto hopeless lives.  For this Graduate article, he took the time out to write about the work, the difficulties and the rewards. Read the rest of this entry »

We finally got our new website up and running.  Watch this space for all new-news from the centre.  Please send us any feedback or comments to seamus.doyle68@gmail.com

AN APPEAL TO ALL  VISITORS TO THIS SITE.

WE URGENTLY REQUIRE WHEELCHAIRS FOR BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT:

DES KELLY,

WESTOWN, TRAMORE,

Co. WATERFORD.

PH. 051 386373  OR 087 7620109.    A CONTAINER WILL BE SENT FROM WATERFORD IN ABOUT 5 OR 6 WEEKS TIME.  THANKING YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

SEAMUS

President visits missionary priest’s project
- The Irish Times, 22nd March, 2004

Renagh Holohan in Iguazu Falls, Argentina

There is reportedly only one Irish resident of Misiones, a remote north-east province of Argentina with one million inhabitants and 1,000 square miles of red fertile earth. And on Saturday the President, Mrs McAleese, went to visit him. Read the rest of this entry »

Testament of Hope
– The Word, June 2004

Through his dedicated care and tireless fund-raising, Fr Liam Hayes has brought hope and sanctuary to Oberá’s poorest of the poor. Sarah MacDonald reports on this ‘remarkable’ achievement, as President Mary McAleese described his work on her recent visit to Argentina. Read the rest of this entry »

President’s visit to Argentina is ‘worth more to the poor than gold or diamonds’
- The Irish Independent, 22nd March 2004

Sarah Murphy in Argentina

MISSIONARY priest Fr Liam Hayes may be the only Irish man in the Argentinian province where he lives, but he’s made a big impression.

A member of the Divine World Missionaries from Limerick, he has devoted 19 years to working with the poor in Obera. Read the rest of this entry »

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