When Hurricane Maria decimated Puerto Rico in 2017, it blew out the windows and doors of Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel, situated in a mountainous region near Humacao, Puerto Rico.
The neighborhood went without power for nine months.
The hurricane’s damage to the roof has caused leaks that, left unattended, could threaten the building’s survival.
A longtime parishioner who is helping to manage the repairs, Juan Carlos Cintrón, described the damage:
This area, part of the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao, is dotted with many other small mission chapels just like Sacred Heart. The church is among six others that is served by Father José Maldonado (right) and Father Robert Medina (left) in a diocese led by Bishop Luis Miranda (middle).
Our chancellor, Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, and our president, Father Jack Wall, visited the mountainside chapel to meet its parishioners and hear firsthand how their parish has given them infinite love, hope and strength in the seven hard years since Hurricane Maria struck.
Father Wall spoke with the parishioners, and thanked Cintrón for all of his hard work in maintaining the chapel for so many years.
Before departing, Cardinal Cupich offered a blessing to the gathered parishioners, and extended his gratitude for their beautiful example of faith in the face of so much challenge.
The church is among the first of hundreds across the island that will be repaired through an extensive, ambitious effort—the largest recovery project in American Christianity.
Through this project, more than 600 damaged Catholic churches, schools and other essential church facilities across the island will be restored.
Catholic Extension Society has worked in solidarity with Puerto Rico since our founding in 1905. Our support increased exponentially in 2017, when we became the first organization to send emergency funding to the island in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Since then our support has remained steadfast; we helped the diocese secure FEMA funding and established a Puerto-Rico based Catholic Chief Recovery Office to oversee the complicated construction phase.
While speaking to the parishioners, Cardinal Cupich expressed his admiration for the community and the beautiful example they set.
Cardinal Cupich spoke about the beauty of the community with Sacred Heart’s pastor, Father Maldonado, and parishioners.
“You inspired me to join in the work of rebuilding churches throughout Puerto Rico, those with great historic value but also all churches and chapels in need of repair, no matter where they are located. I am so aware that your churches and parishioners offer a vital lifeline to your community,” Cardinal Cupich said. “You have every reason to be proud that some of the first repairs to damaged facilities will take place here, thanks to federal grants and the support of our Catholic Chief Recovery Office.”
He continued,
You have the power to be an example to others. Seeing your church repaired and restored will be a sign of hope to other parishes across the island.”
He concluded by telling them, “It will motivate other pastors and the faithful to take the necessary steps so that they too can restore their facilities as quickly as possible.”
Seven and a half years of hoping, waiting and praying have led to this moment—a moment felt across the entire island.
San Juan Cathedral: A celebratory groundbreaking
Earlier that day, Cardinal Cupich and Father Wall visited another Catholic church in Puerto Rico that is also undergoing repairs: San Juan Cathedral, the oldest cathedral and active church in the United States.
The sacred space, dating back to 1521, is threatened by an infestation of mold after Hurricane Maria flooded and thrashed the historic structure. Extensive and ongoing water damage has also weakened the beautiful cathedral, making it even more vulnerable to future disasters.
In a widely publicized press event, Cardinal Cupich and Father Wall joined the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves and bishops from five dioceses of Puerto Rico. The joyous moment symbolized the kick-off to the reconstruction all across the island.
Together, they blessed the construction workers that are now beginning their work.
Astrid Diaz, principal architect of the reconstruction of the cathedral, is overjoyed to see the construction begin.
While FEMA funds will cover a significant portion of reconstruction costs, many program expenses and facility needs remain unfunded. You can donate to ensure that this recovery effort can be fully executed across Puerto Rico.
Cardinal Cupich said that the repairs to the cathedral are “not a landing strip, but a launching pad.”
“This island and its people, full of joy and resilience, hold a very special place in my heart. 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,” said Cardinal Cupich, pictured below in his 2017 visit to the island.
“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.” Cardinal Cupich said.
He continued,
I will be back again in Puerto Rico to see updates on what takes place, for this is all very close to my heart.”
By rebuilding churches and schools, Catholic Extension Society is 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.
The long road to recovery
Catholic Extension Society has been supporting the Church in Puerto Rico for the past 120 years. This includes our support of 1,400 construction and repair projects across Puerto Rico. There are few churches on the island that Catholic Extension Society has not helped at some point in our history.
This includes little Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel on its hillside in Humacao.
A shed sits in the driveway of Sacred Heart. On it, a Puerto Rican flag is painted, with the words, “Con Dios, todo es posible.”
With God, everything is possible.
The faithful here do not know any truer words.
Hundreds of humble chapels like Sacred Heart Church need YOUR help to cross the finish line to get repaired! FEMA does not cover the entirety of repair costs. Please donate today to help rebuild the Church in Puerto Rico! Click here to donate .
