It could not happen if it were not for you.

A message of good news from Frank Donaghue, Chief Executive Officer:

Just recently we celebrated the feast of Easter, and like most feasts we celebrate in the Church, or even holidays we celebrate within the secular community, they are very planned and structured with every detailed prepared. In the church, the music is practiced, the special flowers arranged, the ritual unique, and so too is the way we celebrate Christmas, Mother's Day or Father's Day with our families. We have special traditions and customs that make up these annual planned events.

However, the real events of Easter and Christmas and Pentecost were not like our current celebrations; they were unexpected, kind of scary, almost rough, and yet they are the very events through which God made himself known to us. 

For our kids their stories are also often rough, scary, and unexpected, but once at NPH something happens; their lives are changed, and for most of our children they experience family for the first time. This is the good news of Nuestros Peque?os Hermanos.

James Joyce, the Irish writer, describes �Epiphany� as a quick sudden discovery of "whatness", and that is what happens at NPH. And it could not happen if it were not for you. 

It happens through your generosity of resources and even your love by becoming part of our children�s lives. Every time I visit a home I seem to connect with a child and decide to sponsor a new child: one who never knew his parents; one the son of parents who left him at NPH because they had HIV, were alcoholics, and the mother a prostitute and knew that they could never take care of him; a little girl and her 5 brothers and sisters whose mother died; a boy who started his life in a trash dumpster. Each story more tragic, scary, unexpected, and rough than the previous. In a short time, I have had an epiphany, perhaps they have had one too. My small gift is little compared to the gift they have given me. 

It costs about $5,000 a year to give a child that life, that hope, that opportunity. It is their food, their medical care, their education. 

NPH is their home, their family, you have a chance to bring provide that for them, and they have the ability to give you a gift beyond measure�take it from one who had an epiphany. 

This is an invitation to truly change the life of a child and transform your life at the same time; now that is good news.

Click here to learn more here.

Christmas Recipes from all the NPH homes!

Christmas Recipes

Mexico 
Tamales Recipe:
 � 7 cups fresh corn kernels, from 7 ears
� 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter
� 1/2 cup granulated sugar
� 1 egg
� 1/2 tablespoon salt
� 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
� 1/2 cup harina de maiz (dried corn flour) 
� 20 dried corn husks, soaked in warm water for 30 minutes
 Instructions:
� Working in batches, add the corn kernels to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
� In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until pale. Add the egg, salt, and baking powder. Mix to incorporate. Add the flour and pureed corn and mix until blended and forms a loose, smooth dough.
� Put a corn husk lengthwise in front of you with the wide side closest to you. Spread 3 tablespoons of the dough all over the bottom half (wide side) of the corn husk, leaving about a 1-inch-wide border on the left and right sides. Pick up the 2 long sides of the corn husk and bring them together. Roll both sides of the corn husks in the same direction over the filling.
� Repeat with remaining corn husks and dough. Arrange the tamales, seam side down, in a steamer and add 1/2-inch of water. Cover with a tight fitting lid, bring to a simmer and steam for 1 hour, adding additional water, as needed to maintain 1/2-inch of water in the pan. Remove the tamales from the steamer to a serving platter and serve.
"The tamales we eat at Christmas time taste great, and they make it with love. All of us look forward to it!�

Haiti
For Christmas, the meal served at the FWAL home of Kay St. Louis is �diri djon djon cole ak poi congo� or rice with pigeon peas with a mushroom base; �poul fri en sauce� or fried chicken in a s?s; and �salad wous� or Russian salad. This salad is a mixture of 3 key root vegetables � potatoes, carrots and beets. To drink, the children are served orange juice or lemonade. 
Rice with Pigeon Peas in Mushroom Base:
� 2 cups of white rice
� 1 cup of pigeon peas
� 1 cup of dried black mushrooms
� 1 finely chopped onion or finely chopped leek
� 1 chopped sweet green bell pepper
� 1 tbsp of butter (cooking butter)
� 2 chopped cloves of garlic
� 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
� salt and black pepper to taste
� 1 bouquet of parsley
� 3 sprigs of thyme
Directions:
1. Cook the beans, bouquet of parsley, garlic, salt and pepper in 4 cups of water for 2 hours or until peas are tender in a medium pot
2. Drain the beans but keep the water which will be used to cook the rice; put the peas aside.
3. Check the mushrooms for small rocks and sediments. Boil mushrooms in small pot for 10 minutes or until water turns black. Drain the mushrooms and discard. Keep the water to be used to cook the rice.
4. In large pot which will be used to cook and simmer the rice, sautee the onion (or leek) and green pepper in the oil.
5. Add the beans along with salt and pepper to taste. Add 2/4 of the water used to cook the beans and all the water from the mushroom and bring to a boil
6. Add the rice and thyme and allow mixture to come to a full boil cook for 15-20 minutes or until all water is absorbed.
7. Uncover pot and sprinkle with oil, sprinkle with some of the remaining water used to cook the beans and simmer for 15 minutes.
8. Remove thyme and serve.

Fried Chicken In Sauce (Poul fri an s?s)
� 8 Medium sized fryer chicken drumsticks
� 1 large onion sliced in rounds or crescents for cooking and garnish
� 1 leek mashed
� 1 large minced pepper (mild or hot depending on your taste)
� several cloves of garlic, smashed or minced
� 3/4 cups of tomato paste
� Pinch or two of brown sugar
� generous pinch of salt or a ground chicken bouillon cube
� black pepper
� 1 cup of lime or lemon juice or sour (green) orange juice
� ? cup of oil
� 3 tablespoons of mustard (yellow or brown)
� 2 tablespoons of vinaigrette salad dressing
� 2 cups of water
Directions:
1. In a bowl combine salt, pepper, mustard, vinaigrette, garlic and leek and 2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice. Combine mixture well to create a marinade. Cover and set aside.
2. Wash chicken well with rest of the lime or lemon juice and pat dry. Rub each piece with the mixture in the bowl.
3. Heat oil in a heavy pan (cast iron is best as the heat is distributed evenly).
4. Fry the chicken pieces in hot oil turning periodically to brown on all sides (a few minutes at each turn)
5. Chicken may stick to pan. Use spatula to turn so as not to remove skin.
6. When fully brown, add the onion rounds and minced pepper to the pan, stir well. (Save a handful for use as garnish).
7. To lift sticky pieces, add a few teaspoons of water and cover immediately. Remove from fire for 30-40 seconds.
8. The chicken should be well browned. Drain excess oil.
9. Combine the tomato paste with 2 cups of water and stir into the chicken. Stir frequently to lift the browning at the bottom of the pan.
10. Bring to a slow boil until sauce thickens.
11. Transfer cooked chicken to a platter and garnish with rounds of raw onion or crescent pieces of onions.
12. Tomato sauce can be substituted for the tomato paste. Use 1 cup if tomato sauce and ? cup of water.
13. This dish goes well with diri blan (plain white rice) -- the sauce at the bottom of the pan can be poured on top of the rice. Enjoy!

Haitian Russian Salad (Salad wous)
� 4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
� 1 carrot, peeled and minced
� 1 small beet
� 2 1/4 teaspoons salt
� 2 eggs
� 1/2 cup sweet peas
� 1/2 onion, minced
� 1/3 cup red or green bell pepper diced
� 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
� 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
1. Boil potatoes and carrot in water with 1 teaspoon salt for 10 minutes or until tender.
2. Boil beet separately in water with 1 teaspoon salt until tender, then peel and mince. Boil eggs separately in water with 1/4 teaspoon salt until hard then remove shell and mince.
 3. In a bowl, place potatoes, beets, carrots, onion, red or green bell peppers and mix with mayonnaise. Add black pepper. Enjoy!

Dominican Republic
At Christmas, although we don�t have a traditional recipe to share, we serve a special meal to the children and entire NPH-DR family. The plate consists of pork, chicken, Russian salad and spaghetti. The pig is marinated in a soup like mix with garlic, peppers, other vegetables, oregano, basil and other spices for several hours. These vegetables and spices are all homegrown at our home. After the marinating process is done we send the pig to the nearby city of San Pedro de Macoris to have the pig roasted. Our oven is not large enough for an entire pig so we outsource a bakery in the city. The pig roasts for another several hours and is then brought home to be sliced up. For a similar recipe like our pig roast, please visit http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-live/roast-suckling-pig-recipe/index.html.  For a similar chicken recipe please visit http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-chicken-recipe/index.html.  For a recipe similar to our Russian salad, please visit http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/russian-salad-ru305910.html. The spaghetti is simple with spaghetti pasta and a simple red sauce. Our kids look forward to this meal every year and always leave satsified and full. Sandy, 10, commented, �I can barely move after all of the food, but it is so good and I can�t not eat everything on my plate!�

Peru
Marinated Pork with rice and sweet potato (camote):
Basic ingredients: pork, onions, hot chili, garlic, caraway, salt, pepper, oil, sugar.
Blend garlic, caraway, pepper, salt, chili and oil and put the pork steaks inside and leave it for one hour. Then you fry the steaks in a pot. Once they are fried you put the marinade on. Cut the onions in strips and add the sugar. Put everything on the pork and mix it. Put the lid on the pot and cook on low heat until the onions get dissolved. You serve it with rice and camote (sweet potato).

Bolivia 
For Christmas Eve dinner we?re planning to eat a simple T-bone fried and flavored to taste with salt, pepper, minced onion and oil. It is accompanied by rice seasoned to taste with minced garlic, minced carrots, minced onions, oil and salt. We also have a salad of shredded lettuce, carrots, onion, tomato and vinegar. We drink fruit punch made with one part apple juice, one part mocochinchi juice (a fruit native to Bolivia), two parts water, and cinnamon and sugar cane to taste. 

Honduras 
For our Christmas Eve dinner we serve nacatamales. The ingredients for our nacatamales are the following: corn, lard, rice, potatoes, raisins, salsa (tomato, chile peppers, cilantro), chicken or pork meat, banana leafs
Here is a recipe you can use that is very similar to the way we prepare our nacatamales. http://www.whats4eats.com/breads/nacatamales-recipe 

Blanca

Blanca is 15 years old. She has two older brothers and two sisters at the home at NPH Mexico. What she likes most about Christmas is the candy and Posadas. She can't wait to break the pi?ata this year!

Josue

Josue is 4 years old and has two older brothers and two older sisters along with him at NPH Mexico. What he likes about Christmas are the presents and Santa Claus! He loves to draw and paint for and always enjoys helping with decorations during the holidays. 

Esteban

Esteban is 11 years old, and has one younger brother in the NPH Mexico home. What he likes about Christmas is the gift-giving! Every Chistmas he plays with his friends and has lots of fun. All he wants is for everyone to be happy!

Diego

10 year old Diego lives at NPH Mexico. What he likes about Christmas is the toys, Christmas Eve, and the festivities. He likes going to mass also. To celebrate Chistmas he loves decorating the tree! His wish is for next year to be another happy one. He says, "Christmas is very pretty! I like it so much!"

Happy Thanksgiving

A message from A. Frank Donaghue, Friends' Chief Executive Officer: 

I recently returned from my trip to El Salvador and Honduras on Thanksgiving Morning. Needless to say my experience was utterly inspiring. The kids and young adults we all work to support are worthy of every effort given to our mission. What was most noticeable to me, especially from the students attending the  leadership training  from all our homes in Central and South America in Honduras, was the depth of spirituality and gratitude that our future leaders possess.  At every Liturgy, a student prayed for blessings on our donors, volunteers and staff. 

From a beautiful Quincea?era, to a graduation of kindergarten and grade school children, to a training, to dinner in the baby house, gratitude and faith was the most prevailing feeling.

Gratitude; I want to express to you in the deepest sincerity with the words of Paul.  "I give thanks to God for the gift of you".  I extend that to you on behalf of the children you help, give a home, feed, educate, shower with joy and provide with safety.

It is such a privilege  for me to work with everyone at Friends and NPH and share our commitment and passion. 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Frank

P.S.  Meet my newest Godchild, Darling.  She is 5 and lives at the home in Honduras. This picture is from her recent Baptism.  She is absolutely awesome. That smile alone gives you a reason to be Thankful.

Happy Mother's Day!

At all of our NPH homes, even though many of our children come to us because their biological mothers can no longer take care of them, our peque?os are not motherless by any means. They have many "mothers" in their lives, and a strong and supportive family that lets them know they are truly loved.


"To them, I was a mother figure (yes, some of my girls called me �Ma� and �Mommy�), a sister, an aunt, a friend, a teacher and a mentor. What they were to me was an inspiration. Each day, I was encouraged by their ability to overcome any and all obstacles. They made my time at NPH fulfilling, and I was able to fill a void in their lives." -Kelly Hettic, volunteer at NPH Mexico 

"When the sun sets and the moon comes up, our mothers don't tire; they continue their work. As Charly, a T?a from Casa Santa Maria Reina, says, "there isn't a day to say everything that we as mothers have done, because every day is something special for a mother." Every day is Mother's Day; however, on this day we open up and remember all the help, encouragement, and love that each mother has brought into the lives of all the children here at NPH and in Honduras." -Benjamin Katz, Home Correspondent at NPH Honduras

"In their service, the mother figures live out and offer the very core values that NPH works to instill in its children: love, security, sharing, work and responsibility. Their presence of positive motherhood is vital for the healthy growth of our children, many of whom have experienced loss and abandonment by loved ones. Learning by their example, we hope that our peque?os will know the gifts of service, love and responsible motherhood in their own futures." -Hailey Rademacher, Communications Officer at NPH Honduras

Christmas Stories from the Dominican Republic

At NPH Dominican Republic, some of the children were asked questions about Christmas. Below are some of their honest and heartwarming answers.


Jesel


How did you celebrate Christmas before arriving at NPH? (?C?mo celebrar la Navidad antes de llegar a NPH?)


Christmas was nothing special, just a normal day. We lived in a really poor neighborhood; me, my brothers, my aunt and my mom. Usually my mom and aunt would go to the disco and leave me and my brothers home alone. This was normal though. We didn�t get any special food, and we rarely received gifts. When we did get gifts though, they were usually things we needed, like new clothes to replace the old, ruined ones.


What comes to mind when you think of gifts for Christmas? (Lo que viene a la mente cuando se piensa en regalos para Navidad?)


When I think about Christmas gifts I get really happy. I think about NPH and that also makes me happy.

Sebastian


How did you celebrate Christmas before arriving at NPH? 


Christmas before arriving to NPH was always nice. My aunt would join us, and we would have pig, which was not a normal dinner. Although we didn�t get gifts, because we didn�t have money, it was nice to be with each other.


What comes to mind when you think of gifts for Christmas? 


When I think about Christmas gifts I think about all the things I wanted when I was a little kid, before NPH. All of my toys before were broken. Now when I think about it, I am happy. I think of toys and video games and other things kids usually want for Christmas.

Manuel


How did you celebrate Christmas before arriving at NPH? 


Christmas, I can�t remember it so clearly, but I know it was a special time for me and my family. We would eat nice chicken and be with each other. We sometimes got gifts, one time I even got a bicycle! Of course it was for me and my siblings to share, but it was still really cool.


What comes to mind when you think of gifts for Christmas?


I get happy and excited for Christmas time. I think about the presents I have gotten in the past, like that bike. Then I think about all the gifts we have gotten at NPH, like last year when we took all the pictures with the gifts.

Daniella


How did you celebrate Christmas before arriving at NPH? 


We didn�t really celebrate Christmas. I wasn�t living with family before I arrived here, just me and a woman from my neighborhood. She was really nice, but we didn�t celebrate. It was just a normal day, and we were poor so we couldn�t make it special. I have only had one Christmas at NPH so far and it was really nice to be with so many people.


What comes to mind when you think of gifts for Christmas?


It makes me happy. I like opening presents, before you know what the present is. I also like seeing people react when they get a present.

Mayelin


How did you celebrate Christmas before arriving at NPH? 


It was always a really great day! We would eat so much, pig, rice, sweet beans and more. We were really lucky. We had a lot of family close so we would all walk together on Christmas and just spend time together as a family. We got some presents, new shoes and clothes. I liked Christmas before, and I like it here too.


What comes to mind when you think of gifts for Christmas?


When I think about Christmas presents I think about ones I have gotten from the past, who they were from, especially the things I still have with me. I feel happy when I think about it because it is always nice to get presents; it means someone is thinking of you.

Christmas Stories from the Peque?os

Jondra, 19 years old
NPH Nicaragua


Jondra was born on June 22nd 1992. She is a member of the Miskito tribe of Nicaragua who live in extreme poverty with no food, medicine or education. The government asked NPH to help improve the tribal children�s quality of life and Jondra joined the NPH family on February 16th, 2011.


Jondra is the daughter of a Honduran mother and a Nicaraguan father. She used to spend Christmas in either of these countries with her extended family. Back home Christmas was a time of sharing. She would go and bring some cake to another family, and they would send her's something else. There was even a Christmas tree at her grandmothers� house, a plastic one, which one of her uncles had brought from the capital, and they would decorate in December. With her cousins she would play "Secret Santa", giving each other small gifts. She remembers one time some of the kids at the church were discussing Christmas gifts when one girl remarked, �What better gift than Christ?� This made them decide to go from house to house singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve. Afterwards they went to church and gave the baby Jesus gifts, such as flowers and candles.


These Christmases are a fond memory for Jondra, but belong to her past now. Her mother is deceased and now, along with her younger sister Engy, she is part of the NPH family. Her biggest wish is to keep studying. Jondra is in her fourth year of secondary school and hopes to go on to study systematic engineering or law at the university. Her Christmas wish for this year is that all her family may be well.

Esmeralda, 10 yrs old
NPH Mexico


Esmeralda and her two brothers joined the NPH Mexico family only one year ago when they were abandoned by their parents. Esmeralda is happy to be living at her new home and is thankful that she can still be with her siblings. Her favorite thing about living at Casa San Salvador, our home for children in pre-school through middle school, is celebrating special events and holidays, especially Christmas. 


Before coming to NPH, the only thing she remembers about celebrating Christmas is eating Turkey dinners with her family. For Christmas at Casa San Salvador, she now enjoys a special meal, breaks open pi?atas, plays with the other children and receives special presents from her Mexican Godparents. Her favorite gifts to receive are teddy bears and hair clips. When asked what she would ask for if she could have one wish granted as a Christmas gift, she said, �My wish would be to help the little children in the world that don't have a home.� 


NPH Mexico is delighted to know that Esmeralda?s deepest desire is to fulfill the mission of our beloved founder, Father William B. Wasson. One day she hopes to work at NPH to help make her dream a reality.

(Esmeralda on the right.)

Gifts of Love: Meaningful Gift-Giving

Below is an article shared by Marcia Mendola, who has helped head up the Haiti Initiative at St. Louis Church in Pittsford, NY for over 20 years. Please read to learn about the amazing relationship between St. Louis, Friends of the Orphans and NPFS Haiti and the great work they are doing together to help children in need.


Over the past 20 years, St. Louis Catholic Church in Pittsford has enjoyed a special relationship with Fr. Rick and his staff. They say he is a �real saint in the making� and appreciate his incredible work for the betterment of mankind. They are especially grateful to him for providing a direct route of service to the suffering in Haiti, and have complete confidence in his work knowing that every cent is put to the best possible use. When the 2010 earthquake hit last year, St. Louis Parish was poised to help with several fundraisers (in addition to the regular tithing commitment to Friends of the Orphans): the 39th Annual Corn Sale, St. Louis School�s Dress-Down and Bake Sale days, a World Hunger Banquet event, the Sunday Stroll for Haiti and the famous annual Christmas Ornament Sale. In addition, the church committee manned a fundraising and informational booth at the fall and spring town celebrations; a local musician tied to the committee created, performed and sold a song about Haiti (http://www.mangotreeforhaiti.com/); and a local restaurant owner and parishioner offered Italian sauce for the cause.


This September, St. Louis celebrated its 40th Annual Corn Sale. For forty years the Powers Family, who run an area farm market, have planted, harvested and delivered wagon loads of fresh corn for parishioners to sell before and after masses on the weekend after Labor Day.


During the coming Holiday Season, St. Louis will conduct its 30th Annual Ornament Sale. Over the past 20 years the money raised has been sent to Fr. Rick�s efforts with the Haiti Initiative. From Halloween until New Year�s Day the beautiful, uniquely different every year, white ceramic ornaments will be available at 4 area churches and 26 merchants around the Greater Rochester area. (Donations of $6 each are requested). Purchase sites, pictures of the ornaments, and more information is available on the parish website: http://www.stlouischurch.org/.


The story behind this Ornament Sale is a wonderful one! These works of art are made by the �Special People� at the School of the Holy Childhood (http://www.holychildhood.org/). Throughout the school year, these developmentally challenged students work as part of their curriculum to create 2,600 masterpieces. In the summer months, the school�s workshop students gift-package the ornaments for St. Louis. Holy Childhood students, despite their personal life challenges, are proud and happy to be of help to children not as fortunate as they. This year, in 2011, the 30th edition proudly features the �Angel of Music� and �Peace Doves.� This project is aptly named �Works of Love�. From the creation of the ornament to its packaging, the children�s love is plainly evident. The purchasers buy the gift out of love for the recipient, and the recipient loves to be remembered in such a thoughtful, meaningful way. All involved find this a way to show their love for the beneficiaries: the poor of Haiti.

Kathleen McMahon (Pastoral Associate of the Social Ministry and Justice at St. Louis Church in Pittsford, NY) adds: It is only within the last eighteen months that I have had the privilege of working with Marcia Mendola, Bob McNamara and Jennifer Rayno to assist with their amazing efforts on behalf of Fr. Rick, Our Little Brothers and Sisters organization in Haiti (NPFS Haiti) and Friends of the Orphans.  It is an honor to be involved with their devoted labors.