We started penniless. We give thanks to our good Lord and Our Seraphic Father Saint Francis who have moved the heart of good benefactors that have shown us the will of God to progress in this project of SAINT JOSEPH’S HOME FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

MAY SAINT JOSEPH AND THE HOLY FAMILY BLESS THE GOOD SOULS THAT HAVE HELPED AND WILL HELP TO MAKE THIS PROJECT AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM.

The will of our Lord has been made patent in this project. Not having any funds, we trusted in Saint Joseph and his protection and guidance have brought us to where we are. 

After three years of taking the position of the property, we have seen man signs from Divine Providence in many circumstances. We know the HOGAR is a very ambitious project, but at the same time, we are surprised with the progress achieved and can see, without any merit of our own, the will of God and the protection of Saint Joseph.

We have put the Hogar in the hands of Saint Joseph, progress is being made to set the foundations of what is needed, Providence has blessed some of the sisters with experience to do it well. Our community is growing little by little totaling a number of 9 plus two candidates for the religious life. 

The road is long, legal requirements are always a burden, trusting in Our Lord, Saint Joseph, Saint Francis, and our Blessed Mother, and in our part, we will keep offering our sacrifices, work and prayers so that we may see the Hogar in full operation when Our Lord so pleases. 

Here is a following brief description of what has been done, thanks to Our Lord and our good benefactors, blessings, and thanks to them. We also included what we plan to do if it is God’s will. 

Reparation to convent entrance.

Entrance from main highway, about 300 yards, was very narrow barely enough for one car and even then the vegetation scratched the sides of the vehicles. We have now expanded the road to over 20 ft. leaving enough room for two cars.

Door bell Installation

Plans for the Future involve:

Guardian living quarters which would be a three-bedroom house. We calculate about US$ 70,000 for this project

A House for priests would include two bedrooms, living, dining, and kitchen facilities. We calculate about US$45,000 for this project.

And especially the building of facilities to board 38 handicapped children, with beds, infirmary, medical clinics (2), emergency and observation beds, areas for physical and other therapies (5), recreational areas, kitchen, dining rooms for children and workers, laundry, administration, and all necessary installations, have already been drawn and benefactors with engineering and sanitary experience are working on details and budgeting. 

We are trying to take advantage of everything we can in the buildings of the abandoned nut and bolts factory, for example, many walls, foundations, and some supports will be used which means considerable savings in comparison to having to build from scratch, however, many radical modifications will be needed.

We commend ourselves to your prayers and may the Holy Family and Our Seraphic Father Saint Francis bless you and we thank you for your prayers and donations.

This house was renovated to house young ladies aspiring to enter the religious life in our convent. A complete overhaul was made of the walls, roof and flooring. We found bats and wild bees in there as well! Now there are 3 rooms with convenient sanitary installations.

The property as purchased featured a hand-dug well which was adequate for its former use. However, to be adequate for a facility of the nature conceived a larger capacity well is to be installed. The property consists of different elevations with the highest elevation being some 50 feet higher than the lower elevations. The potable water project includes a concrete pad placed on the higher elevation with two to three individual, large-capacity water tanks installed on this pad. There is a hydraulic engineer consulting on this project. It is expected that this gravity-fed system will be more than adequate to supply the facility, the Convent, and that property which is to be reserved for agricultural use – producing food for the facility and convent.

Forty solar panels have been ordered with a total capacity of 12KW. Installation is expected early in 2021. At this time this should provide sufficient energy for the convent, but the expectation is that in the not-too-distant future the energy demand will surpass this. A system is being designed that can be easily upgraded and expanded as necessary.

Aug.2020

Installation of Solar Panels were made and there has been a significant improvement on the quality of the light and the cost reduction.

Ten 60 watt security lights standing 26 feet tall will provide added security to the property.

Again, thanks to the generosity of donors, heavy-gauge, anti-climb wire-mesh fencing panels have been purchased and await installation. The perimeter of St. Joseph Convent is just under one kilometer. These panels will be installed upon a base of concrete block and taken together with the block will reach to a height of over nine feet. GOOD NEWS! The panels have arrived as of this writing and installation should begin soon with construction of the concrete-block base. A generous benefactor has graciously provided the funds to cover the cost of the concrete-block base and installation of the panels.