Archbishop of San Juan Roberto González blesses the ground of the Cathedral and Basilica of St. John the Baptist on March 31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as Cardinal Cupich and others look on. Catholic Extension Society’s Recovery Program is helping to rebuild churches and schools damaged by hurricanes. (Photo courtesy Catholic Extension Society)
Cardinal Cupich, chancellor of Chicago-based Catholic Extension Society, joined Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan, Puerto Rico, along with bishops from five dioceses of Puerto Rico, on March 31 for the launch of a major project to recover and rebuild the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico. In a presentation held at the Cathedral and Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Old San Juan, they unveiled the program, which will impact more than 600 Catholic churches, more than 25 schools, and other church facilities across five dioceses of Puerto Rico, thanks to over $400 million made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Housing and private donations. “This island and its people, full of joy and resilience, hold a very special place in my heart,” Cardinal Cupich said. “After Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, Pope Francis sent me here to offer his support and encouragement to the Puerto Rican people and church leaders, and to keep him informed of the situation. Since then, I have returned numerous times to monitor the progress of our efforts to restore Catholic churches and schools through the Catholic Extension Society’s Recovery Program. “In 2020, following the devastating earthquakes, we expanded the recovery program to include more parishes and schools. And today, the construction phase begin. We know that by rebuilding churches and schools, we are not only serving the Catholic community, but also Puerto Rican society at large. This recovery project will generate a far-reaching economic, educational, and cultural impact, benefiting many communities and future generations.” Catholic Extension Society’s mission is to work in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of the United States and Puerto Rico. Catholic Extension Society has been supporting the church in Puerto Rico for the past 120 years. The Catholic Chief Recovery Office in Puerto Rico was recently established with the help of Catholic Extension Society. The office reports to the bishops of Puerto Rico and is staffed by local Puerto Rican professionals. Their services in the areas of finance, engineering and management will help the church build more resilient structures, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its presence on the island. The recovery program, which is estimated to take 5 to 7 years to complete, will not only generate nearly 7,000 direct and indirect jobs, but will also strengthen Catholic infrastructure, allowing for greater spiritual and charitable care on an island where nearly 45% of the population lives in poverty. The reinforced Catholic Church buildings will provide greater shelter and security to save lives in the face of future disasters.
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