Artist: Angel Valdez
Dear Friends of Casa Juan Diego,
The joy of Christmas comes as a great gift, breaking into the despair, sadness, and fear of violence that surrounds us and others in many parts of the world.
All the hype about Christmas shopping (since July 4) simply cannot drown out the
Good News of this Silent Night: Jesus was born in a stable at Bethlehem with the poor!
We are still in the stable at Casa Juan Diego, where we await Jesus in the person of the poor (Remember Matthew 25:31ff.: Jesus said: “What you do to one of these least ones, you do to me”) and daily Jesus comes.
He comes to us in men, women, and children, many who are traveling, seeking to avoid starvation for themselves and especially for their children. He comes in those who are black and blue or threatened with death or with their heads full of stitches, in those men who have been shot in the back, in those who have had their legs broken by thieves.
Many come to find a bed. Providing hospitality remains our hardest work as much can happen when people are with us day and night. Someone is always sick or has a serious illness or a baby is being born.
Each week a thousand hungry Houstonians also come for a bag of groceries and medicines at our clinics. With your help and that of the Houston Food Bank we manage to organize and distribute the food. (We buy rice and beans by the pallet.)
The worst thing about Casa Juan Diego is the constant stream of suffering, poverty, destitution, neglect, the victims of violence who come to our doors, the shadow of the Cross already present at the Incarnation. We are overwhelmed. We cannot receive all who come to stay.
But the best thing about Casa Juan Diego is the constant stream of suffering, poverty, destitution, neglect, the victims of violence against immigrants who come to our doors, which gives us the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and live out the Gospel. The hope of the Resurrection is there and is stronger than death. Yes, we are overwhelmed, but we survive, by God’s grace, through faith working in love. Amazing Grace!
We are writing to ask your help with the “best thing” about Casa Juan Diego. We need you as much as we need the poor to live out the Gospel. If you are able to send a gift, it will be a participation in our works of mercy and will go to the poor. There are no salaries at Casa Juan Diego. We also need your prayers.
Many, many thanks. May the spirit of Christmas be with you as you celebrate faith above the din of Christmas shopping.
Very gratefully,
Louise Zwick and all at Casa Juan Diego
Houston Catholic Worker, VOl. XLIV, No. 4, octubre-diciembre 2024.
