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
