By Apostolic Pre-Novice Stephanie A. Negrón, Puerto Rico (Province of Central America)
Four decades ago, the seed of charity and mercy, sown by Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in France, took root on the Island of Enchantment. The St María Eufrasia Home, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, was founded on January 12, 1986. To begin this work, Sisters María del Socorro Contreras, Susana Camacho, Isabel Morera, María Elena Vásquez, and Estela Restrepo were sent to the island accompanied by the Provincial Leader of Central America, Sr. Nidia Quesada. They began this mission in response to God’s call and the needs of many adolescents in Puerto Rico, transforming the former residence of the Diocese of Arecibo into a safe harbor of hope.
The generosity of the Puerto Rican people soon shone through. Volunteers and laypeople quickly connected with Euphrasian spirituality and, together with the sisters, worked hard to advance the mission. And so it did. In 2002, thanks to the Board of Directors, the Missionary Community, and so many women and men partners-in-mission, the sisters—together with the young women and their babies—moved to their new home, a space designed to offer greater dignity to their lives.
“Charity is the language that souls understand and the weapon that disarms the most stubborn resistance.” (Saint Mary Euphrasia)
Over its forty years, the Home has welcomed approximately 870 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 19, along with their daughters and sons. Data on the social challenges addressed over the last five years reflect the deep need for this work of mercy: domestic violence (6%), sexual abuse (24%), physical abuse (19%), and neglect (51%). In the face of this reality, our response is to offer holistic services in education, therapies, independent living workshops, catechesis, and spiritual accompaniment.
Just as Saint Mary Euphrasia believed that “one person is of more value than the whole world,” the presence of the sisters and the formation of partners-in-mission seeks to preserve this spirit of ardent zeal and attentive charity, respecting the personhood of every woman, girl, or child, promoting their human rights, and recognizing their dignity as daughters and sons of God. The experience of God’s love becomes concrete through compassion, tenderness, and mercy, which embody the true universal culture of justice.
Guided by the belief that, as Saint Mary Euphrasia said, “Gratitude is the memory of the heart,” on Sunday, January 18, 2026, we joyfully celebrated this anniversary. The Eucharistic Mass at the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Arecibo was the heart of the celebration, where life blossomed with the baptism of two babies and the first Holy Communion of one of our young girls.
The gathering that followed, filled with testimonies from former residents and acknowledgments of gratitude from governmental and Church authorities, reminded us that this work belongs to God. As we look back on the path we have traveled, we renew our ardent zeal for the mission and look toward the future with hope, desiring to remain visible signs of life when the world sees only obstacles, sin, a waste of time and money, and simply statistics.
There, among those on the margins of society, as the voice of those who do not yet have their own, our faith, life, and service find meaning; love expressed in concrete form.
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.”
Psalm 125:3
Watch a video (in Spanish) about the support the Santa María Eufrasia Home in Arecibo, received in June 2025 from Curzon Puerto Rico to revitalize its green spaces, and promote dignity, healing, and hope for the resident adolescent mothers and their children.
