杏MAP导航

By Seàn-Patrick Lovett

You might easily drive past the 鈥淐asa Hogar El Buen Samaritano鈥� and not even notice. Tucked away in a side-street of a Panama City suburb, from the outside it looks just like any other house. There鈥檚 no sign or billboard to tell you this is no ordinary residence. Nothing to indicate that this is home to those who would otherwise have none.

No one comes here to die

All 18 of the guests in this house are living with HIV Aids, victims not only of the illness, but of the prejudice, ignorance and fear that accompanies it. Ranging in age from 16 to 60, they have been rejected and abandoned by their families. But, as the slogan for the structure indicates: 鈥淣o one comes here to die鈥�. They come instead to recover, and to  rediscover, a fuller dimension to their lives.

Officially, around 30,000 people suffer from HIV Aids in Panama. But given the stigma attached to the illness, that number is probably only indicative. As in many other parts of the world, the Catholic Church runs centres and foundations, like this one, to assist various disadvantaged categories of people with varying degrees of disability.

Creating a home, creating community

Four of these Church foundations, represented by 60 people, came together at the Good Samaritan Shelter on Sunday for what was a particularly touching and intimate encounter with the 杏MAP导航. After listening to their stories and accepting their gifts, all hand-made by the participants themselves, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted how 鈥渢he maternal face of the Church鈥� is capable of 鈥渃reating a home, creating community鈥�. And creating a home, he continued, 鈥渋s to create a family鈥�. A home, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渄emands that everyone work together鈥�, it means learning patience, and forgiving one another鈥�.

And that is how 鈥渢he miracle takes place鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淲e feel that here we are reborn, because we feel God鈥檚 caress that enable us to dream of a more human world鈥�.