For the ninth consecutive year the ONG Ayudafortaleza, born in Our Lady of Buenavista, Getafe Parish (Madrid), attended by the Augustinian Recollects, organized the traditional dinner with the participation of partners and collaborators.
The Lar-Hogar-Santa Monica was born on the initiative of the Augustinian Recollects to provide comprehensive care and a dignified future to girls victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. The ONG Ayudafortaleza was created to help support the Santa Monica LAR in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil.
Currently there are 38 girls in the center, with enough direct care staff, professionals in the area of Psychology and social work and a community of Augustinian Recollect Missionary Sisters.
In the first quarter of the school year, and taking advantage of the presence of a religious in Brazil, especially from Fortaleza, this event is prepared with love, especially with the intention that the missionary spirit and the hope of helping the project remain alive.
A little after seven o’clock in the evening, the Eucharist began presided by the Augustinian Recollect Alberto Moreno, the alma mater of the project and much loved by the parishioners he had served in his first years of priestly ministry. More than two hundred people were present, part of whom would attend the subsequent dinner. The celebration was animated by the parish choir that interpreted the songs with elegance. Some Augustinian Recollect religious from the Getafe and Santa Rita parishes in Madrid participated in the Eucharistic liturgy.
During the homily Alberto stressed that the young girls are the reason for this project. He recalled the importance of feeling part of that Home, and the need to continue helping to keep it alive. He recalled that it does not matter who is directing the center, but the value of the work, and thanked all for their expressions of affection during the twelve years in which he was in front of that program.
After the Eucharist, Alberto himself motivated everyone with a PowerPoint presentation on the LAR. They were able to see the improvements of the center and pictures of the young girls and those who assist them. He mentioned how difficult it was to say goodbye to them when he was sent to Spain. Now as provincial president of the Missions Section and of the Social Apostolate Commission, he will surely help to keep the missionary spirit alive and will continue to promote this work.
From the church, they proceeded to El Tablao restaurant, to share an exquisite dinner that was prepared in a bullfighting atmosphere and with pleasant background music from the 70s and 80s. Two long tables on both sides of the large hall welcomed the 92 participants.
During the wait for dessert to be served, some bingo cards were distributed, whose winning prize would be two types of dinners paid for by the local business. The winning line would have the prize of a dinner from Monday to Friday and the whole card the same, but on weekends, whose menu is of a higher category. Bingo was sung while the diners sweetened their palate.
After dinner, the volume of the music went up a bit and couples started to come out to the center of the dance floor to dance. In this atmosphere of relaxation and joy for about an hour, the party ended with the hope that next year another similar celebration will be held.
