Holy Cross Ministries – Chile
Site Address:
Avenida Egaña 940, Peñalolén
Santiago
,
Región Metropolitana
7910137
Chile
Website:
congregaciondesantacruz.cl
Categories:
Spanish Language Preferences:
Location Details
Description
The Congregation of Santa Cruz in Chile works with several institutions and sister churches and parishes such as: Fundación Moreau (Fundamor), Fundación La Fuente, and Manos que Incluyen. NDBridge students will work with all three of these agencies, especially Fundamor. The students will live right next to Fundamor, this home for children who come from extreme situations of poverty. Students will spend the mornings assisting the outreach teams working with local at-risk families and the afternoons in the homes with the adolescent boys and girls who live in the home. There are also opportunities to work with the parish soup kitchen and ministries to the elderly. Here is a bit more information about the three agencies: – Fundamor is dedicated to providing services and residential care to vulnerable children and adolescents. Students accompany the children living in the residences and assist in providing recreational and educational activities three or four times a week. They also assist with organizing celebrations and important social gatherings for the children. This past year, ND students met with the children weekly for Dance Therapy, a ukulele workshop, a furniture workshop and a work from home activity. They also accompanied the children to the beach for their winter vacation. – Fundación La Fuente is a solidarity dining room for elderly residents of the Peñalolén community. It belongs to the San Roque Parish and they not only deliver food to the elderly but also accompany, befriend, and care for elderly people in situations of poverty and abandonment. – Fundación Manos que Incluyen is a group of neighbors with disabilities or caregivers of family members with disabilities who carry out manual embroidery and sewing work from their homes. They are people who need accompaniment, support, and ideas and structures so that they can sell their products and earn income for their families. The Holy Cross Congregation in Chile is made up of brothers and priests, disciples and witnesses of Jesus Christ, in close collaboration with lay people, serving the Chilean Church as bearers of hope and open to the signs of the times through their particular charism: proclaim the Gospel as educators in the faith, and preferentially opt for the poor and the young. In this endeavor, Holy Cross supports these local nonprofit organizations. Fundamor is located next to the Holy Cross parish where students will have the chance to connect with the priests and seminarians living there.
Student Role
Participants of this program will live in the neighborhood of Peñalolén in Santiago, Chile. They will be working directly with Fundamor supervised by Maritza Rivera, the director of Fundamor and Paulina Soto, the administrator for Chile of Holy Cross. Holy Cross foundations are fully devoted to be an agent for the underprivileged children and elderly who suffer the consequences of abandonment and who are in many ways vulnerable. Fundamor is an organization aimed at children and their families, with the aim of restoring their rights that have been violated, promoting the comprehensive well-being of them and their family, in order to enhance the protective and personal capacities of children. People who receive the assistance and help from these foundations come from a community made of very vulnerable people, with a high degree of poverty, lack of access to good work opportunities, quality education and quality healthcare, so the job done by the Holy Cross through its foundations is of paramount importance and in constant need of support.
Work Schedule
The schedule is not yet determined, however, students will have a full-time role in the community divided into the three foundations, all three located within walking distance from Holy Cross in Santiago.
Orientation
Orientation and training will be provided by staff from NDGlobal in Chile and staff members from Fundamor, Manos que Incluyen, and Fundación La Fuente.
Housing Information
Housing will be provided in a guest house for Holy Cross Chile, which is next to Fundamor and their administrative offices. It’s a simple house with all the necessary amenities. It has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a study, and a living room. It has good internet access and is close to shops.
Spanish Language Proficiency
Fluent
Other Language Proficiencies
Spanish is the only language that is required.
Drivers License
No
Student Preferences
This site works best for female students. Students should be open, flexible, and excited to serve in a variety of roles needed in the community. Students should be comfortable using their Spanish, even if they are still learning. A love for children is very important. There are also opportunities to participate in the faith life of the Holy Cross Seminary House and parish for students who are interested.