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Story and photos by Carrie
Swearingen
Extension Magazine (June 2001)
 "Gracias,
lady. Gracias," murmur the olive-skinned orphans who rush to
greet me. The nuns who care for the children explain in Spanish
that I, somehow, will bring them help. Balancing two Nikons and
a scratch pad, I hardly feel capable. The 4-year-old girl clinging
to my right leg continues, "Te amo mucho."
I’ll find a way.
Puerto Rico, an American territory, floats quietly in the Caribbean,
but the cries of unwed mothers and abandoned children are reaching
the mainland. Arecibo, nestled an hour and a half west of San Juan,
is host to residents in both upper and lower economic categories
–– each despairing the epidemic of youth pregnancies to
hit the island’s northern coast. Elevating hopes, however,
the Diocese of Arecibo has successfully launched preventative programs
and homes to support orphaned or mistreated children as well as
unwed teen mothers. It is no secret that financially secure Americans
are being sought for help.
Catholic Extension, the largest supporter of Catholic missionary
work in America, has pledged to uphold the preventative efforts.
Though the Chicago-based organization has channeled $6 million to
the diocese over the last two decades, additional funding is needed
for current progressive efforts such as Young Mother’s Workshops,
the Santa Teresita Home for Mistreated Children, and Santa Maria
Eufrasia Home for Unwed Mothers.
Santa Maria Eufrasia Home, named for the foundress of the Sisters
of Good Shepherd of Angers, rests near the ocean in what once was
the bishop’s home. Sounds like a resort? Not quite. Floors
are splitting, mold seeps in through the walls of every room, make-shift
stairs connect a giant bedroom (housing all of the expectant mothers)
with an activities room, and exposed electrical and plumbing peers
through uncovered bathroom and kitchen ceilings. The list of health
and safety hazards leaves a heaping paper trail.
Though crumbling, this quiet refuge is currently home to six expectant
teens and regularly supports up to eight. Since its 1987 inception,
the Sisters and social workers help the girls through medical visits,
homework and ongoing education, newborn care, employment, and coping
with their own bodies which sometimes have not developed enough
to handle the challenges of pregnancy. Staff also work with each
young mother’s extended family to ensure a supportive environment
if the child is not given up for adoption.
Recognizing the need for a new facility, Arecibo diocesan staff
approached Catholic Extension with blueprints and a building plan.
A development site closer to an area hospital was chosen when this
land was offered at a nominal fee.
Nearly $800,000 has been raised of the projected $1 million necessary.
"Another $200,000 is needed to complete the new center, with
private bedrooms and bathrooms for up to 16 young mothers, indoor
and outdoor recreation areas, offices, storage, kitchen and dining/living
areas," said Tom LeClair, Catholic Extension Major Gifts Director.
"It is scheduled to open in December, yet ongoing contributions
will be needed to furnish and maintain Santa Maria Eufrasia Home."
Detroit native Sister Roberta Grzelak, Director of Catholic Charities
for the Diocese of Arecibo, stresses the need for preventative programs
in order to cope with the ever-growing issue of childhood pregnancy.
Teen pregnancy has become the norm in Puerto Rico, with some high
schools serving two or more classrooms of pregnant 14-year-old girls.
The term "childhood pregnancy" is used here deliberately.
Sadly, there are a growing number of cases where 9, 10, 11 and 12-year-old
girls have become pregnant. The devastation on the girl, her family,
and her overall social status are significant and help is not comparable
to the standard of support groups and alternative care often found
in American culture.
Furthering the problem, jealousy over the girls sometimes leads
to abuse by boyfriends or family members. Those young Catholics
who have chosen abortion have suffered extensive trauma, some self-inflicting
physical harm over the guilt of committing a murder and avoiding
personal responsibility. Many elect to have the children, and this
is where the care of Santa Maria Eufrasia Home for Unwed Mothers
joins forces with the girl, her family, medical professionals and
counselors.
A Failing Economy
"The economy here is devastating," Grzelak said. "The
Home for Unwed Mothers is essential in a community like this, and
yet the problem of poverty has more far reaching effects.
"The economy is forcing residents to lose their good paying
jobs, and so they settle for minimum wage jobs," Grzelak continued.
"They can’t keep up the mortgage because the salary is
not enough to pay for food and mortgage –– therefore,
there is the risk of losing their house and becoming homeless. There
are so many stories.
"One woman was on the streets for three years. She lost her
children. They were gathered up and sent to different places. I
personally went with her, for six months, while trying to find help.
She’s willing to work, to do anything to have her kids back.
She couldn’t find the work because she doesn’t have the
education. She couldn’t get her kids because she doesn’t
have a house. She couldn’t get a house because her husband
was involved with drugs –– so she threw him out. But she
still is blackballed because one strike and you’re out. Here,
in Puerto Rico, if anyone has been linked in any way to drugs, he
or she cannot qualify for public housing.
"There are so many different pressures," said Grzelak.
"And it is going to affect children. They desperately need
places like our orphanage –– Santa Teresita [Home for
Mistreated Children]. The Family Department doesn’t have enough
housing to contain all of the displaced children –– the
orphans of poverty. And unconditional love is something children
often forfeit when placed in a facility that does not adhere to
a spiritual mission."
In this area, a distinguishable upper class is non-existent. Successful
conglomerates do not make their home in Puerto Rico and, therefore,
do not support a lower or middle class. Third-world countries become
more appealing to large companies due to the abundance of work force,
low cost of living, and lack of far-flung island shipping expenditures.
Only 20% have completed college, 48% have completed high school
and the remaining have not completed school, according to Grzelak.
An estimated 30% of residents are illiterate, yet without a high
school diploma one cannot be considered for janitorial or other
entry-level positions.
And what about those who are qualified? Often they may live too
far from the job site to accept an available position because they
simply cannot afford transportation. Without modern pubic transportation
in far-reaching areas, scattered workers can likely access one commuter
vehicle per day –– if lucky. A blue-collar worker will
commonly wait for that car at an early hour, crowd in with others,
return in similar conditions after sundown, and the cost will swallow
much of his salary.
An Island of Hope
Preventative programs seem to be having a measurable impact on hopelessness.
Those who have completed such programs as the Single Mothers Workshop,
have found new-born aspirations. Maura Alonso, respected administrator
for Santa Teresita Home for Mistreated Children, attended the psycho-educational
workshop herself –– years before accepting her current
position. "I noticed a difference in myself in the first week,"
said Alonso. "I was in despair, alone with two daughters. Suddenly,
I found time for myself, I was able to slow down, I learned about
self-love and the importance of self-esteem. I could actually feel
myself becoming a better mother."
Alonso’s daughters, Jessica, 15, and Natalia Maria, 8, are
proud of mom who has inspired them to consider social work themselves.
Her ongoing participation within the diocese and degree in social
work earned her a reputation as a compassionate leader. She was
eventually offered two positions within the diocese, and followed
her heart to Santa Teresita Home.
"The children here at the orphanage are ages two through five.
And these kids give me something," said Alonso. "Because
when you finally have learned to see Jesus in everyone, then He
is always calling you. He shows you in the eyes of others that He
needs you in some way."
"The children are energetic and obviously loved," said
Stefano Mereu, husband of a Catholic Extension employee and recent
visitor to Arecibo. "Bright colors in play areas and theme-decorated
bedrooms help the children to feel at home. I felt as though I was
attacked by 23 smiles. They lined up to sing songs, laughed and
played well together, and turned to the warm arms of the sisters
and other staff members as if they were their own mothers. It was
heartwarming. That staff is doing exceptional work."
The children of the orphanage can stay for a maximum of one year.
Through the Department of Family, they are often adopted by area
couples or carefully placed back into the extended family of the
birth mother when at all possible.
Help on the Way
Catholic Extension has already advanced phase-one funding to the
Diocese of Arecibo. "And with the help of donors, we plan to
keep it coming," said Dick Ritter, Vice President of Catholic
Extension. Current funding was secured with the help of an anonymous
Chicago donor who blanketed the children with a whopping $300,000
donation. "But we still have $200,000 to go to meet our first
goal for these people. A five dollar sacrifice is just as meaningful.
One of our favorite quotes is that of St. Francis of Assisi: All
we have left is what we have given away."
Gathering my cameras and journalistic residue, I’m tapped on
the shoulder. "It is important that you are here," one
sister assures me through the help of a translator. "Be our
voice. We don’t have the money to travel. Please be our voice."
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