Jesus of Nazareth Farm

One of the best parts of my visit to Honduras was the opportunity to visit and spend time with the boys, young men and staff of the Granja Jesús Nazaret (Jesus of Nazareth Farm). I had done pastoral work there pretty intensively during the last year and a half of my time in Honduras. I was overwhelmed when I arrived the first Sunday I was there to celebrate Mass for them and found my name painted on the walls of one of the buildings!

The original complex of buildings (above);
the new dormitory for the boys and young men (below).

The Granja is home to about 74 boys and young men. It is directed by an amazing couple, José María (Chema) and Ada Alcerro, who have three boys of their own, but have opened their marriage and family create a beautiful, peaceful, home-like and faith-filled environment for the boys entrusted to their care.

Proposed site for the chapel - if the funds needed to build it can be raised.

The Granja cultivates fruit, corn and other crops,
as well as raises fish, cattle and other livestock
to be as self-sustaining as possible.

Some of the boys are complete orphans, many come from families who – for one reason or another – were not able to properly care for them. Among the residents are several with Down’s Syndrome and other kinds of special needs, a youth with severe epilepsy, another who is completely deaf and unable to speak. Many of these special boys will be in the care of the home probably for the rest of their lives.

A group of boys with a snake they caught.

Watermelon - a universal favorite.

The Granja is part of a larger organization established by an outstanding Catholic Honduran laywoman, Carmen Beteta, and includes a home for small children, girls and young women, a house for mentally ill older girls, a university residence for the children who have grown up in the homes and are now studying at college, a house of transition for young adults getting ready to live on their own and a number of other outreaches.

Group photo at the end of the Campeones de Cristo retreat
which young men from Missioners of Christ helped to lead.

One of the most moving experiences I had during the time I was able to spend with the Granja boys was a weekend retreat for the group of older boys that we formed several years ago called “The Champions of Christ” (Campeones de Cristo). They were extremely well behaved, open and receptive, and the retreat was exceptional – particularly a very blessed Saturday evening Eucharistic adoration prayer vigil.

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