Dorothy Day's Pilgrimage Continues at Casa Juan Diego

The Pilgrimage Continues...
CASA DON BOSCO SERVES IMMIGRANT TEENS

by Andy Wright

John Bosco was born August 16, 1815. From as early as nine years of age he had a sense of his vocation: to be a friend to youth and to emanate
the Love of Christ such that many young people would want to receive
this gracious Love. Through many trials of misunderstanding and
political jealousies, as well as varicose veins and spinal pain, John
"Don" Bosco remained joyful, almost playful, in performing the work Our Lady asked him to do.

It is in the spirit of this determined and humble servant of Jesus that
Casa Don Bosco is founded. It is a home for Spanish-speaking immigrant boys, ages 12-18. The need for such a house is born out of the
alternative "opportunities" that await these immigrant children in the
Land of Opportunity. They, just as the older immigrants, come to make
money to support their families to the South. However, they are often
too slight of frame or not skilled enough to do the hard manual labor
that older immigrants do. Most often the easiest way for the kids to
make money is to prostitute themselves to older, affluent men in nice
cars or to sell drugs, or both. Clearly, a place such as Casa don
Bosco, where the principal mission is that these young people feel loved
as Jesus taught us to love, provides a better alternative for immigrant
boys.

Given the colorful diversity of personalities that have already crossed
the threshold, one is challenged to find practical means to foster
Christ's love here. As the committed steward of the house, I hope to
facilitate this through a combination of work, play, Gospel reflection
and prayer; all of which is done in the spirit of Catholic Worker
values. We begin with the truth that God is our Creator who loves each
of us specially, no matter what! We give thanks to God by sharing in
the work he has created us capable of doing. This includes house
chores, fixing up the chapel, and constructing a garden. We also play
soccer or swim in the public pool with the same grateful vigor.
Additionally, we approach conflict resolution with Jesus's example of
ultimate forgiveness as the ideal--for adolescent boys from different
countries and family backgrounds this is a slow and worthwhile learning
process (I'm learning a lot, too!). Finally, Casa Don Bosco is rooted
in living out the values of voluntary poverty, hospitality, and pacifism
as proclaimed by Peter Maurin and Dorothy Day, a constant and welcome challenge.

The house and its residents are a part of the Houston Catholic Worker
family. Mark and Louise Zwick, who have bound their lived to Jesus's
message of service (see Mt. 25:31ff), have, as stewards of the
generosity of all who give to the Houston Catholic Worker, pledged
spiritual, material, and financial support to Casa Don Bosco. In
addition, many friends and family members gave hours of meticulous work to have the house ready by August 25 when the first residents were
received.

Here is an introduction to a few of the boys. Simon, 13, is from
Honduras. he had to quit school after third grade in order to help
support himself and his family members. He has sold newspapers, cared
for farm animals, and sweated in sugarcane fields for the last four
years. Presently he is in school and loving it! We all enjoy his gift
for rhyming and telling jokes. Jeremias, 15, is also from Honduras. He
never knew his father. He had to quit computer tech school only one
year after beginning because there was no money available to continue
his studies. He hopes to learn English here, and to make the money
needed for his mother to build a cement block house. He, like no one
else in this house, has the gift of uninhibited gab. Jose, 17, is from
Guatemala. He came to the U.S. for fear of his life. His parents, both
afflicted with a debilitating disease, are unable to hold a steady job.
Jose supports them and his younger siblings, whom Jose hopes will all
graduate from secondary school. He is gifted with a wisdom beyond his
years and a sense of wonder that positively affects all the other boys
in the house.

Please pray for us as we pray for all who read this.

Houston Catholic Worker, Vol. XVI, No. 6, November 1996