Sr. Maru Espinoza, MFP, from the Casa de los Pobres in Tijuana writes:

“More and more of the Haitian refugees continue to come to us asking for our help. Poor people! They come and they come, but thanks be to God there are more people who have responded generously to help us help them!

Donations have been coming in to help the Haitians. Very good! A group from Orange County that belongs to a Haitian Bridge Alliance organization came to organize the refugees, bring them tents, food and donations.

And some people from San Diego have visited them. They organized them into 9 teams so that everyone can work better, and it is going well according to what they tell me.

Yesterday, a group from the Lions Club came, and they put up a very large tent to protect the people from the cold. In that large tent, they can put their smaller tents that we purchased for them.

And as always, we trust in Divine Providence!” - Madre Maru, MFP

Fr Gil responded:

“As always, what you are doing are the Works of Mercy – extending the hand of Jesus to these poor people. Thanks be to God that there are other people who are willing to help in so many different ways! All for the Glory of God!” - Padre Gilberto

If you'd like to help, please Donate here. 


Christmas Mass to be via Zoom, Reports Fr. Gil Gentile 

"Because of the pandemic and now the new variant, the sisters and volunteers are very cautious. And so rather than the grand Christmas fiesta with an outdoor Mass for many hundreds that I have been privileged to celebrate for almost 40 years,  I hosted a Zoom Mass for the volunteers, medical staff and the sisters at the Casa, and others of the MFP (Franciscan Missionaries of our Lady of Peace) sisters around Tijuana.
 
They will also serve pan dulce and hot chocolate to the people at the gates of the Casa.

The sisters have asked for special prayers since many Haitian refugees have been coming AGAIN to the Casa looking not only for food, clothing and medical care but also desperately needing a place to stay.

Four or five years ago, with the first wave of Haitian migrants to Tijuana, the sisters had almost 200 of these refugees living at the Casa. They were sleeping in every nook and cranny of the Casa – in the chapel, the dining rooms, the clothing room etc.

There was also a group living in a far-flung Colonia, Santa Julia, where the sisters taught catechism and would bring food, clothing and medicines to the people living there.

It went on for almost a year. Little by little, these Haitians were able to find low-wage jobs and places to stay and moved out of the Casa.

Now, a new wave of these refugees is looking to the Casa for help. And the sisters and volunteers of the Casa de los Pobres keep on keeping on. 

God bless them!

The Poor of the Casa Face Unimaginable Challenges — Even in Death 

A woman named Nelsi A., 56 years of age, died suddenly of heart failure in her small home next to the Casa de los Pobres in Tijuana.

She lived with her husband who is older in age.  He sits in a wheelchair that he cannot move, as the floor is only dirt.

Nelsi came to the Casa for Bodega Day every week to get her food, and often she asked for her medicines for diabetes in the clinic.  She came every day for breakfast, and took some food to her husband.  Every Monday in our dining room, we give a banana at breakfast, all peeled. Nelsi came all the time to the Casa to collect the banana husks to use them to mix with dirt for the little plants that she had, and that she cared for to sell to get money.

When we learned she had died, we tried to find out where her body was.  The officials took her to the proper place after death for arrangements. Since there is no family around, she was going to be buried in the common place for the unknown.

Our Sisters have been dealing with the various people and offices so we can obtain the body to give her a Christian burial.

"It has been very difficult, since there is no identification found by her husband at home. We keep trying and hoping for an acceptable identification.  Please pray that we do find it." Sister Armida


Those Helped by the Casa Give Back

Enedina and Leonor G. brought a symbolic donation for Casa de los Pobres.  They said when they arrived in Tijuana, they came to the Casa to eat and started to learn how to write. They are now giving a donation with pleasure and gratitude, to allow the Casa to continue to help others.  Thank you!