Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) means “Our Little Brothers and Sisters” in Spanish. NPH USA transforms the lives of vulnerable children. Founded in 1954 by Father William Wasson, NPH supports nearly 8,000 vulnerable children, both inside and outside NPH homes in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru. NPH helps children overcome poverty and become productive, caring leaders in their own communities by ensuring they have a safe and nurturing place to live, an education, clothing, healthcare, and a strong family support system. In addition, NPH’s St. Damien Pediatric Hospital employs more than 500 Haitians and is the only hospital wholly dedicated to pediatric and prenatal care in Haiti, a country of 11.5 million people.
St. Josaphat has had a longstanding relationship with NPH and many parishioners are Godparents to "pequenos" and have traveled to NPH homes in Latin America to build relationships with the children.
Our Lenten Giving for 2022 is being directed to Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos.
This lent, it is our target to raise $15,000 for NPH, and for 25 children to be "adopted" by generous and loving St. Josaphat people. Please watch for speakers and information throughout lent. The Second Collection every weekend during lent will be for Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos.
In case you missed the firsthand account at Mass from Sarai, who benefitted from this program, here is the text of her speech:
Good afternoon. My name is Sarai Altamirano. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today.
I came to NPH Honduras in 2006 at the age of 15 with my younger brother, Lenin. Before joining NPH we lived with our parents in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
In 2003 we were on our way to visit my grandmother on Christmas Day. The whole family went: my two parents, my two brothers and myself. On the way we had an accident in the car which my father was driving. My father died, and the rest of us were left with serious injuries in the hospital. That day, my life changed completely. The doctors said my mother had HIV and AIDS, and they told her that she only had a few months to live.
Those were difficult years for the whole family. In 2005 my mother passed away. I felt that the world was not fair to me and my siblings because in just a few years we had lost what we loved the most, our parents.
That day in 2005 I became a mother at the age of 14. I had to work in the markets selling fruits and clothes to bring food to my younger brother, but in June 2006 my life and my brother’s changed again. We were invited to join NPH.
NPH provided us a safe and welcoming family where we experienced the values of unconditional love, shared responsibility and helping others. NPH became our family. We were able to get an education and learn a trade. I learned welding, and I graduated from the University with a degree in Preschool education. NPH provided us with all the possibilities to good citizens and to serve society. As a teacher, it is my hope to share the values I have learned with all my students.
I am currently studying English, and my big dream in the future is to help more boys and girls to fulfill their dreams, just as I have been fulfilling my dreams little by little. At NPH I learned personally that helping a child today can make a difference that lasts for a lifetime. I am here with you today sharing my story, and at the same time I am planting a seed that I hope will bear fruit in the lives of all my brothers and sisters at NPH.
Today, I would like to ask three things of you. The first is to pray for my NPH family who need NPH. We’re Catholics. We believe in the power of prayer. I ask that you pray for them. The second is to consider sponsoring one or more of my NPH siblings. For less than a couple of dollars a day, you can become a sponsor. There is a table at the back of the church that has more information. As a sponsor, you will receive periodic communications from and about your sponsored child. I had NPH Godparents that followed my journey growing up. You can write your godchild back and forth and even visit them. The third thing I ask of you is to be generous in the second collection throughout Lent for the children of NPH. You can also give through St. Josaphat’s Giving Central or you can text NPHUSA to 312-625-5666.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be here with you and share a bit of my story. Thanks for supporting many children from different countries served by NPH who fulfill their dreams and goals.
May God grant health and wisdom to you and your family. Have a good day.
