Please join us on October 24 for mass and a dinner of Father Gil Gentiles’ famous meatballs, with music and fellowship! NO cost, just bring your enthusiasm for the work of the Casa de los Pobres! This is a celebration of 66 years of the Casa, founded on September 8, 1957, and 81 years of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady of Peace, Founded on June 20, 1941 by Mother Catarina ed Jesus Rodriguez.
Where: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 2766 Navajo Road, El Cajon, CA 92020
When: Tuesday, October 24, 2023; 6 PM mass, 7 PM dinner, 8 PM short program.
RSVP: casadelospobresusa@gmail.com
Questions? call or text 619-755-7363
writes . . . “I am very grateful for the great help you have given to me. I live with my son who has autism. Despite this, he tries to help me in ways he can such as watching a small place rented for parking a car. Before, my brother was watching for us and gave us some money for food, but unfortunately for our family, COVID took him away from us as he was a doctor. By a friend, I was able to learn about this place Casa de Los Pobres, and so to have some food, something I am so grateful for. I suffer high blood pressure, and it is difficult for me to get a job, but I try as I can. I felt lost as my son and me sometimes we did not have any food some days. We need to pay rent, we have been without electricity for months. It is so hard, I was disoriented, how to keep going, but you have given me hope. I feel blessed for all.” 
this reason, I started to prepare fruit ice cubes and sell them in the streets. I am asking for the help of an ice box with wheels, so I can haul it and continue to sell. My children need clothing and shoes, and I cannot buy them. We have no electricity, a neighbor let us connect sometimes, but then many times, it is cut off. If you can help me with the icebox, you do not know the great help you will give me, so I can continue to feed my children. Then, I do not have to carry the box myself, which is difficult as I take 3 of the children with me walking and I hold the baby. Please and many thanks. God bless and multiply all the help you give to us.” Marya C. (Does anyone have an ice chest with wheels to donate to this lovely and industrious mother? Update: one was donated.) 
“Thanks to God and His Son Jesus Christ and to our Mother Virgin Mary for this place and to you Sisters for your love to your neighbors. I was left without a job and do not have a place to live, so I came to get some groceries. I have need of clothes, shoes, hygiene supplies, and a blanket. Please excuse me for all I am asking. May God bless you all. Thank you.” Jaime A.
Meet Jose, a 6-year-old. He told one of the Sisters: “I want to present to you my mom. Her name is Monica and I have a little sister who is three weeks old. My other sister is called Mireya and she will be two years. My dad is Jose. He works in a factory but earns little money. I like very much to play ball and soccer. When I get home from school, my mom gives me a yummy soup and then I do my homework that my teacher gives me. When I grow up, I would like to be a doctor to help the people who are sick and don’t have money to get well.”
working closed. Right now, we are living on the streets or in the parks. When we have some money, we pay for a shelter. I want to thank all the people who selflessly help us. Really, thank you very much. I really don’t know what would become of many of us, mainly all of the elderly like me. I am 64 years old and lost my job 2 months ago, and my few savings ran out. Someone told me about this place, so I started coming 4 days ago.”
Tijuana. Their conditions of living are very poor. They have a boy 3 years old, and recently a baby girl was born premature. The father is a mason worker and earns very little to support the family. The newborn baby, Rosita, was in the incubator for a month, had intestinal surgery, then eye surgery.
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Queen of Peace coordinate an annual Christmas distribution where 1,500 impoverished families receive a chicken, rice, beans, canned vegetables and fruit, and a bag of candy to make the festivities a little sweeter. Families also receive blankets, jackets, shoes and toys for the children.