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| Our History |
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| On October 19, 1944, Father
Alberto Hurtado first launched the idea of Hogar de Cristo
(A Home for Jesus Christ), with a view to "building a
home for those lacking any form of shelter".
In December that year, the first stone of the Chorrillos Home
was blessed. The following year, the welfare foundation was
conferred its legal capacity by the Chilean Government.
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• In
September 1945, the first night-shelter opened on calle
López.
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In 1946, the large building that was to become the actual
"mother house" was inaugurated, on calle Chorrillos,
a street now named after Padre Alberto Hurtado.
• When Father
Hurtado died, in 1952, he was succeeded for a short
time, as Chaplain, by Father Guillermo Balmaceda, S.J.
• Subsequently,
this position was taken on by Father Álvaro Lavín,
S.J., Father José Cienfuegos, S.J., Father Renato
Poblete, S.J., in 1982, and Father Agustín Moreira,
in 2000. |
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| The idea of
extending Hogar de Cristo to the whole of Chile was approved |
| The first branches in the Chilean cities
of Antofagasta and Los Angeles were opened. |
| The first
home for the elderly was opened, as the forerunner of
many others. |
| Rooms were set up for people who could not
be attended to in hospital. |
| The family placement experience began, as
a further step in helping children. |
The first day care centers, which have now
spread throughout the country, were started. In this year,
a section for terminal patients rejected by hospitals
was inaugurated.
Because of its significance, this installation was visited
by Pope John Paul II, on his visit to Chile in 1987. |
| The high-risk centers, which harbor particularly
difficult situations, were started. Work in relation to
drug addiction was begun and subsequently extended to
children leaving jail. |
| The Bread and Wine Dinners began. Work with
the mentally disabled and with Down youngsters started. |
| In agreement with the National Service for
Minors, the program for children living on the streets
was undertaken; it was devised as an adaptation period,
to orient children towards more specialized centers. |
| Villa Padre Hurtado became the original
experience in condominiums for elderly couples, which
enable them to continue their married lives together. |
| The Manresa therapeutical community, offering
special drug rehabilitation methods, was inaugurated in
Lampa. |
| The date of Father Hurtado's death, August
18, was instituted as Solidarity Day in Chile. |
| Father Hurtado was beatified in Rome on
October 16. Furthermore, the construction of a sanctuary
around his tomb was begun, beside Hogar de Cristo. |
| Hogar de Cristo celebrated
its 50th anniversary and, in November, Father Hurtado's
tomb was transferred to the new sanctuary. |
| The hundredth anniversary of Father Alberto
Hurtado's birth was celebrated. |
| Just invested Pope Benedicto
XVI, declared santo to Priest Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga
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