Hogar de Cristo

Throughout its history, Hogar de Cristo has remained true to the core principles of its founder. While charitable activity plays an important role in helping people at the edges of society, Hurtado believed that only the tireless pursuit of social justice could address the root causes of inequality and produce lasting change. In recognition of his selfless dedication to Chile’s most vulnerable populations, Pope Benedict XVI canonized Hurtado as a Catholic saint in 2005. At the same time, the legacy of his service remains an example for activists of all faiths.

Hurtado was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, in 1901. As a student at the Colegio San Ignacio in Santiago, he devoted his Sundays to performing volunteer work in the city’s slums — an early expression of his commitment to social justice. As a young Jesuit priest, Hurtado became head of Catholic Action, a national organization that worked with children and young adults living in poverty.

A chance encounter with an unhoused man in 1944 inspired Hurtado to launch a radical project. Addressing a gathering of women parishioners days later, the priest claimed that Christ himself was embodied in every person living in the slums of Santiago, and that they had a religious duty to provide their savior with a home. The women started a collection, gathering funds to establish the first Hogar de Cristo shelter.

The organization quickly attracted volunteers, and Hogar de Cristo centers began to appear throughout Chile. Meanwhile Hurtado purchased a green pickup truck and began driving through the slums of Santiago, searching for people in need of assistance. Padre Hurtado’s truck would become the symbol of the organization’s mission.

Although Hurtado died of cancer in 1952, Hogar de Cristo continued to thrive in the decades after his passing. It gradually expanded its list of services, forming subsidiary foundations to address specific social needs. In 1995 it launched Rostros Nuevos, a segment that assists people with mental health issues living in material poverty, and in 2005 it created Paretosis to help young people struggling with substance use disorders. In 2006, Hogar de Cristo established a presence in the United States when it opened a fundraising office in Florida.

In the 21st century, Hogar de Cristo has continued to pursue a mission based on principles of autonomy, inclusion and solidarity. True to its founder’s ethos, the foundation promotes structural change as a necessity for individuals to escape the cycle of poverty and pursue their own paths in life.

Contributor: Stephen Meyer