Misa Sabado

As I sat in the church pews at mass Saturday afternoon, I pondered the meaning of church to these children.  The Hogar was founded on the belief that Dr. Lazzara had a mission and calling in life to help children in need and for almost 40 years, he has been doing so.  This mission is represented in the workings of St. Francis of Assisi, for whom the home is named after, Hogar San Francisco de Asis.  In the patio, there is a large statue of San Francisco that never fails to remind everyone that comes into the home that the work that they are doing is necessary.  I believe that every volunteer, including myself, is doing their duty to the world in helping these children.  This is exactly what Dr. Lazzara was meant to do in this world.  I constantly hear stories about how much greatness has come from his generosity, but just how much he has given up never ceases to amaze me.
 The doctor left behind a life as a physician in America about 35 years ago and began his life as a real-life saint in Peru.  To this day, he works hard to get the children the health care that they need and deserve.  He himself makes appointments for the kids, arranges transport, hires nurses and staff around the house, and still manages the kids throughout the day.   The children live in the home for free and receive the best therapy and healthcare Peru can offer, all at no cost to them or their parents.  Of course, the children have their regular chores and responsibilities at home, just like every other child.  I have yet to see a child that is not thankful for his impact on their life.
 Being in mass not only gave me time to think about the children, but also think about the importance of religion in their lives.  Without the callings of St. Francis to inspire the doctor, there may not be this place for the kids to call their home.
 
Religion and god seem to be the common denominators when majestic events occur.  When a miracle happens, those who confide in higher beings sometimes internally lead themselves to believe that it was those beings who bestowed the miracle upon them.   And when you have troubles in life, higher beings are thought to have placed that roadblock in your way to strengthen you and present you with a challenging lesson that you need to overcome.  I read somewhere, though, that inexplicable events may be just that: inexplicable.  The blame of these occurrences on religion is thought to be something that people use as an outlet.  Religion is something people can look toward when there is nothing else to help them and this leads them to blame all things, good and bad, on religion.  When there is no other logical explanation for what is going on in the world, our savior is there.  There may be causative implications, but we cannot forget about coincidental suggestions.

- Nicole