THE CROSS OF CHRIST
God’s mercy is reflected most completely in the ‘cross of Christ’, the instrument of Jesus’ dying for each of us, taking our place and bearing the judgment our sins deserved.
In the ‘cross of Christ’ there is a love that persists in the face of sin, a love that 'puts to death' everything that separates us from Him.
Jesus’ promise is that happiness and joy become ours when we can finally lay at the foot of His cross all of our embarrassments, humiliation, insults, misgivings, failings, and sins; when we can finally nail all of our baggage to that tree.
As a result, we can know forgiveness and clean conscience, for it is through His cross we receive the Holy Spirit, God’s very life and personality, into our hearts.
Through the ‘cross of Christ’ we become united as members of the Church, the physical manifestation of the Body of Christ.
Above: Casa Charlene Dedication Ceremony
The dedication of the Casa Charlene in Villa Maria, Caldas, Colombia was held on Friday June 1, 2018 at 9:00 AM with a Eucharistic celebration.
Mr. Adalberto Zuluaga Ramirez, a well-known journalistic from Villa Maria, served as Master of Ceremonies. After opening with welcome remarks Mr. Ramirez introduced Mr. Gustavo Betancourt, Director of the Fundacion de Meriende, to say a few words to the 75+ attendees about the history and purpose of the Casa Charlene Project. Mr. Betancourt introduced four visitors from St Jules Catholic Church in Lafayette Louisiana USA; parishioner Mr. Martin ‘Teeny’ Perret, Diocese of Lafayette Media Specialist Mr. David Mergist, and St Jules Deacons Vicente Blanco and Reggie Bollich.
Fr. Rigoberto Rivera, Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Villa Maria, was celebrant, concelebrant Fr. Gilberto Lopez Hincapie of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales, Fr. Juan Pablo Gomez Aristizabal, Our Lady of the Rosary in Villa Maria, Fr. Gilberto Salazar Zulauaga, St Catherine Laborne in Turin Caldas Colombia, and the visiting St Jules deacons.Notably attending were several well-known people from the surrounding Manizales-Villa Maria region. Among them were artist Alberto Osorio, painter of the Charlene Richard portrait, and spouse Nidia Londono Osorio; social-pastoral workers Carlos Arturo Galves Meja of Chinchina and Jose Uriel Serna of Villa Maria; 'Servers of the Server' apostolate Angela Monclave Martinez of the Padre Pio Dining Room for Children in Villa Maria; Fundacion de Meriende members Maria Elene Londono Ramirez (founder), Fredy Loaiza (president), Adriana Murillo (secretary), Diana Patricia Valencia (treasurer), Luz Angela Valencia, German Vasques, Maria Antonio Mejia Gutierrez; Casa Charlene neighbor Helena Correa; Colegio de Granadino PTA leaders Marcello and Isabelle Baeza.
At the end of the Eucharist celebration, Fr. Rigoberto blessed the Casa Charlene and Deacon Blanco announced the final dismissal of the mass. Culminating the dedication MC Mr. Ramirez announced the unveiling of a memorial plaque attached to the wall of the main room. The Casa Charlene main (dining) room will be known as the Perret Room in the memory of Mr. Henry Camille Perret, a resident of Lafayette Louisiana USA who was well-known throughout the city for his deep faith in Jesus Christ, devotion to the Blessed Mother, honesty in both business and private matters, generosity, compassion for the well-being of others, and for raising 10 children who share today his values.
The Casa Charlene postal address is:
Fundacion la Merienda
Mr. Gustavo Betancourt, Director
Lote 4 A Via Tajares
Emseguida de la Hacienda Cuba Via Turin
Villa Maria, Caldas, Colombia
Misa de dedicación del Hogar Charlene en Villa Maria, Caldas, Colombia
La Ceremonia de dedicación del Hogar Charlene en Villa Maria, Caldas, Colombia se llevó a cabo el viernes 1ero de junio de 2018 a las 9am con la celebración de la misa.
El lic Adalberto Zuluaga Ramirez, recocido periodista en Villa Maria fue el maestro de ceremonias. Para la apertura dio una calurosa bienvenida y presentó al Sr Gustavo Betancourt director de la Fundación la Merienda para dirigir algunas palabras a una audiencia de Ma de 75 asistentes sobre la historia y propósito del proyecto Hogar Charlene. Betancourt también presentó cuatro visitantes provenientes de la parroquia St Jules en la ciudad de Lafayette, Louisiana, EEUU; al Sr Teeny Perret, feligres de la parroquia, al Sr. David Mergist, especialista de medios de la diócesis de Lafayette, y a los Diáconos de la parroquia Vicente Blanco y Reggie Bollich.
El padre Rigoberto Rivera, párroco de la parroquia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario en Villa Maria presidió la eucaristía junto al co-celebrante padre Gilberto López Hincapie, canónigo de la basílica catedral de Nuestra Señora del Rosario en Manizales, al padre Gilberto Salazar Zulauaga, párroco de Santa Catalina Laborne en Turin Caldas Colombia, y los diáconos visitantes de la parroquia St Jules.
Se destaca la presencia de reconocidas personas de la region de Manizales y Villa Maria. Entre ellos estaba Alberto Osorio, pintor del retrato de Charlene Richard y su esposa Sra. Nidia Londoño de Osorio; los agentes pastorales y sociales Carlos Arturo Galves Mejía de Chinchina y Jose Uriel Serna de Villa Maria; del apostolado “Servidores del Servidor” Hna. Angela Monsalve Martínez de Villa Maria; de la Fundación la Merienda Maria Elena Londoño Ramirez (Fundadora), Fredy Loaiza (presidente), Adriana Murillo (secretaria), Diana Patricia Valencia (tesorera), Luz Angela Valencia, German Vasques y Maria Antonio Mejia Gutierrez; Sra. Helena Correa vecina y dueña original del terreno del Hogar Charlene; representantes del Colegio Granadino Marcelo e Isabel Baeza.
Durante la celebración eucarística el padre Rigoberto bendijo las instalaciones del Hogar Charlene y al finalizar el diácono Blanco anunció la culminación y el envío de la misa. A continuación de la misa el Lic. Ramirez anunció la develación de la placa memorial en el salón principal. El salón principal del Hogar Charlene será conocido como el Salón Perret en memoria del Sr. Henry Camille Perret, residente de Lafayette, Louisiana USA, quien era un ciudadano conocido por su profunda fe en Jesucristo, su devoción a la Virgen, honestidad en los asuntos personales y de trabajo, generosidad, preocupado por el bienestar de otros y por criar 10 hijos que hoy comparten estos mismos valores.
La dirección postal del Hogar Charlene es:
Fundacion la Merienda
Mr. Gustavo Betancourt, Director
Lote 4 A Via Tajares
Enseguida de la Hacienda Cuba Via Turin
Villa Maria, Caldas, Colombia
St. Jules Parish of the Diocese of Lafayette (Louisiana - USA), under the direction of pastor Fr. James Daniel Edwards, has organized and is committed to a project for the care of the homeless, dying, street people of Manizales, Colombia.
Phase 1: Purchase of lot to build Villa Maria (COMPLETE)
Phase 2: Construction of the Casa Maria (COMPLETE)
Phase 3: Purchase of lot to build Casa Charlene Mission House
Phase 4: Construction of the Casa Charlene Mission House