First Posting!

Dear Friends,

Each Christmas I put some thoughts together as I reflect upon the past year. This was a particularly eventful year, as in June- after thirteen years- I completed my term as pastor at St Alphonsus. It was bittersweet for me: in many ways, it was time for me to go (not that I had a choice- pastors in the Archdiocese of Chicago are generally given a maximum of two six-year terms). I felt I had done my job and was excited for the next guy to experience being pastor of such an awesome place. The parish will benefit from someone with “fresh eyes,” and I was ready for a new challenge. I can’t help but wonder whether I will ever have the opportunity again to be pastor of a parish with such incredible and unusual attributes: a thriving young adult community, a uniquely beautiful church, a music program without compare, a part of the city that everyone wants to live in, a highly-qualified and motivated staff- to name a few of them. That particular assignment may well have been a high point of my priesthood, and I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to serve there. I had a touching farewell, and I will miss the people and the parish very much. I already do.

For those who may not know, I had the opportunity to take a six-month sabbatical, beginning in July, and did my best to make good use of the time. I will spare you the travelogue other than to report that I spent August in Austria drinking in the beauty of the Alps (and a little of the beer), and then took part in a three-month continuing education program at the American seminary in Rome- a wonderful experience.

The main thing I would like to communicate to you this Christmas is this: Cardinal George has given me permission to spend two-and-a-half years working as a chaplain at an orphanage in Guatemala. I have a one-way ticket booked for January 3^rd (I’ll be back for vacation, etc, but don’t know yet when my first trip home will be.)  How I ended up at this particular place is a long story, but I have to say that I couldn’t be more excited. I went down in March to meet the kids and the staff and fell in love with them all. There are about 350 children, babies through high school age, and the school there takes in about 150 children from town who otherwise would not have the opportunity of a decent education. The parents of many of the children were murdered due to the civil war (which is over now) and issues related to the drug trafficking that continues to plague that part of the world. The children are not available for adoption; they grow up there. The model is one of “family,” and seems to be successful. When I visited there (and also the home in Mexico) I sensed that the kids are remarkably well-adjusted given their situation- and some psychological studies have apparently also found this to be the case. After high school, they spend one year doing service at the orphanage, and if they are willing to put in a second year, then the organization offers to pay for their university studies. The first orphanage in this system was set up in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and they now also have sites in eight other countries. The Guatemalan home opened in the mid-90’s, and I will be the first priest that they have ever had. The area remains somewhat dangerous, and so I will likely not be venturing off the campus much- at least not by myself. You can see more about it if you would like by checking out the web site: www.nph.org.

Things at the orphanage are pretty basic, although they do have concrete floors, roofs over their heads, running water and electricity. Food is mostly rice and beans, although it is sometimes supplemented by meat (They raise pigs and tilapia, and also have some goats that they use for milk, some chickens for eggs. They are planning to also raise rabbits for meat. In addition, they grow many of their own vegetables.) Along with some professional staff, there are about 20 volunteers (Volunteers have to commit for a minimum of a year, as they find it is not good for the kids to bond with people who rotate out every few weeks or months.) I will not have administrative responsibilities, or if so, they will be minimal. I am really on for overseeing the spiritual welfare of the orphans, as well as the adult staff working with them.

One thing that particularly saddens me, however, is that fact that there is no chapel. In fact, I think it is the only one of the NPH sites without one. Given the hardships and the heartache experienced by these children, it seems to me that helping them to foster a meaningful relationship with Christ is one of the best gifts that anyone can give them. A chapel will not only be a suitable place for dignified worship, but will also be a place kids can go in their quiet moments to reflect upon their lives and experience the love that God has for them. Money at the orphanage is tight, and I understand that they need to provide for the physical and educational welfare of the kids. All of the support comes from private donations; they are not funded with any government money. I believe that a chapel could be built for around $150,000 and I have made a personal commitment to do all I can to get one built for them as soon as possible.

This time of year people assess their charitable giving and often make decisions about end-of-year donations. While I am grateful for a gift of any amount, my hope is that some who receive this letter might be in the position to make a larger gift of a thousand or perhaps even five thousand dollars. I would like to hit the ground running when I get down there, and I imagine it will take a bit of time to get the project moving. If you are in the position to help with this, please click on “I Want To Help You Build This Chapel!” which will take you to a page explaining how to join me in this effort. I think it would be best to work through me, rather than through the organization’s web site, as this way I can ensure that the funds will be properly directed. The plan is to funnel the gifts through Saint Alphonsus parish so that I can a) guarantee that the donations go toward the chapel, b) know who has given so that I can thank them personally, and c) ensure that donors can use their gift as a tax deduction as allowed by law (you will get an acknowledgement from the parish you can use for your tax preparer can use and insert with your records). As a good faith gesture to show that I have skin in the game, I want you to know that I have made a $2,500 personal donation.

I have returned from sabbatical re-charged and energized for this new adventure. I have no plans to stay at the orphanage beyond June 2015, as I am a diocesan priest and I have committed my life to serve the people of Chicago. But I felt that spending some significant time working with the poor would make me both a better person and a better priest. Yes, there are poor in Chicago, but the poverty here is a different kind of poverty, and I am not sure I am well suited to work in Chicago’s poor and dangerous neighborhoods. Who knows? Maybe when I return I will be ready for that kind of challenge. Two-and-half years in Guatemala will be long enough to make an impact (I hope), but not so long that I will lose touch with my “real” life and my friends and my family back in the States (I also hope).

And so as we approach the Christmas holidays and the Feast of the Incarnation, know that you are in my thoughts, and be assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones. And even if you are not in the position right now to help me build the chapel in Guatemala, please keep me and the kids there in your prayers. May our coming celebration of the birth of Jesus draw all of us closer to one another in Him, and may God grant each of us the abiding peace and promise of hope that we so long for in our lives.

Fr. James Hurlbert