Rostro de Cristo
Centro Tomas
A New Home for Volunteers in Ecuador in Memory of Thomas P. McDermott
THE INSPIRATION
There are moments in life when we are presented with a course of action that is so clearly right and good that it takes on a life ofits own and one is swept up in its power. Often times these opportunities appear within the context of tremendous sadness or grief. Such is the case for the Rostro de Cristo community. Rostro de Cristo is still grieving the loss of one of its founding Board Members, Tom McDermott. We have been simultaneously compelled, however, to act in his name to expand the opportunity for youngAmericans and the poor of Ecuador to witness the “face of Christ” through each other. Inspired by Tom’s vision of growth for Rostro de Cristo’s activities, we are committed to building a new volunteer center in Monte Sinai, a settlement area surrounding the port city of Guayaquil, where some of the poorest citizens of Latin America struggle to provide for their families. Rostro de Cristo plans to name this new center after Tom McDermott -- Centro Tomás.
Rostro de Cristo brought together many of Tom’s passions - young people, Latin America, the Catholic Church and the elimination of poverty. Tom truly believed that it is our responsibility as Christians to use our privilege in the way that Christ would - not just to raise the standard of living of the less fortunate but to reflect back to them the true divinity that is in all of us.
THE VISION FOR CENTRO TOMAS
Centro Tomás is Rostro de Cristo’s newest community located in the Mt. Sinai barrio of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Rostro de Cristo’s year-long volunteers will live together at Centro Tomás and will build an intentional Christian community – committing themselves to sharing time together in prayer and meals; challenging each other to explore thevalues of simple living, hospitality, spirituality, service, and social justice; and serving the surroundingimpoverished community.
Volunteers will also commit to serving the community through their work placement sites in partnership with Hogar de Cristo and other partnerships. Hogar de Cristo is a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting social justice; it offers social and welfare services to the poorest families of the Guayaquil region.
In addition, a second house at Centro Tomás will provide the opportunity for retreat groups – young men and women from U.S. high schools, universities, and parishes – to spend one week living with the poor of Mt. Sinai.
HOW YOU CAN HELP …
To learn more about this campaign or to make your contribution please contact Rostro de Cristo:
| Helen Rombalski |
| Rostro de Cristo Program Director |
| (781)-400-5096 |