Hand Painted Wooden Crosses from the Diocese of Uruguay
San Esteban’s Church and Hostel, Uruguay – demonstrating God’s love by supporting those living in poverty who are HIV+
Crosses For Sale
The Friends of the Diocese of Uruguay have made arrangements to
bring several hand painted crosses to the United Kingdom. They are offered for
sale at approximately £2.50, or £3 including postage within the UK. All
proceeds go to the Diocese in Uruguay to help to continue the support for the
San Esteban Hostel.
If you would like to help by selling on some of these crosses, or would like to purchase an individual cross, please e-mail us.
San Esteban Parish and Hostel
The Parish of San Esteban, Montevideo, Uruguay began with many years of
missionary work. Meetings initially took place in a local family home as the
community developed a vision for the parish.
In September 2002, a new chapel was opened. In the same building, the parish opened a hostel to assist people living with HIV/AIDS who were in poverty and had nowhere to live. The church felt called to reach out to and work with this population, having encountered the problems of those who were HIV+ who came from the rural areas to Montevideo for treatment but had nowhere to stay and no family to support them and who ended up on the streets.
Through it’s holistic mission to meet both the material and spiritual needs of those in need, the San Esteban project demonstrates God's love for every person no matter what their circumstances.
The work of San Esteban Hostel
The hostel functions in co-ordination with the public health service and offers a range of support services for those in poverty who are HIV+. The project is co-coordinated by a doctor with the support of two nurses, and is able to provide a full range of medical support and advice. The hostel provides residential accommodation for those who are HIV+ who would other wise be living on the streets or in other inadequate situations. Residents live in community and share household tasks. The circumstances of those helped by the project change over time and many former residents also use the services of the hostel. They come for meals, to use the facilities and for support and advice. Some return as volunteers to assist in the running of the project. Pastoral support is always available and there are regular prayer times at the hostel. Many residents choose to participate in the life of the church.
The crosses
An important aspect of the project is helping beneficiaries to find
employment, and to participate in worthwhile and fulfilling tasks such as arts
and craftwork activities. The sale of items such as the little wooden crosses
raises much needed income for those the project assists, and for the running
costs of the hostel."
Part of the message of commitment of the San Esteban Hostel, proclaimed Easter 2003:-
The dignity of every person, in every moment and in all circumstances is what has called us to come together to reflect and plan actions in the crisis presented by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As followers of Christ…we want to come together through the San Esteban Hostel to raise our voices to pronounce words of hope and unity and to denounce situations of injustice and exclusion. With the objective of breaking the silence that has, for many years, brought pain and death, we want to… demonstrate what Jesus himself has taught us, both in our words and in our commitment to pastoral action.
Staff, residents, volunteers from the hostel and members of the congregation, after a recent baptism.
