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Santa Mónica: A journey of hope for those facing addiction
What began as a prayer group for mothers who were worried about their children became a foundation that accompanies young people and families affected by addiction in Tierra del Fuego.
Vatican News
What the Hermanas Discípulas de Jesús (Sisters Disciples of Jesus) began as a prayer group for mothers, to help their children, has become an organization that supports young people struggling with addiction.
The industrial city of Río Grande is located at the southern tip of the South American continent. People from all over Argentina are drawn to the city in search of job opportunities and the promise of greater economic well-being.
Behind this dynamism, however, the extreme conditions of cold, wind and isolation foster situations of depression, sadness and addiction. It was in this context that the Disciples of Jesus began their mission, the first Sisters reaching the island in 2012.
Sister Virginia Michel, the Institute’s Superior General, and Sister Rocío Parmigiani launched the pastoral activity at the invitation of Father Felicísimo Vicente, SDB, founder of the Jesús de la Divina Misericordia Pastoral Centre.
The Centre was designed as a place to welcome the most vulnerable, especially those who suffer from loneliness, depression and addiction. “We realized that our charism had to adapt to an urgent need: to heal those wounds,” Mother Vicky recalled.
Santa Mónica began as a self-help group for mothers whose children were trapped in cycles of addiction. The mothers would arrive at the pastoral centre carrying immense pain, seeking solace and spiritual help to overcome their situation.
At first, they were offered spiritual accompaniment, but it soon became clear that prayer had to be supported by tangible resources. What began as a small prayer circle thus became a foundation that transforms lives.
Over time, volunteers who wanted to help not only mothers, but their children as well, began to arrive. This paved the way for a framework that provides holistic support. The service is completely free and is the only one in the region to offer free religious and therapeutic support to the entire family.
The Sisters acknowledge that it was not an easy journey. They had to study, research and seek new tools to understand and face the crises young people experience.
“We learned to combine technical work with our biblical, Eucharistic, and Marian spirituality. That made the difference at Santa Mónica”, affirmed Mother Vicky.
A mission inspired by the perseverance of mothers
The original idea was to call the foundation ‘The Good Samaritan’, to express care for those who have been wounded along the path and need help.
Looking to the project’s origins, however, the Sisters remembered the brave mothers who fought tirelessly for their children’s lives, and decided to name the foundation after Saint Monica, a model of perseverance and faith, who prayed for years for her son, Saint Augustine’s, conversion.
The name reflects support for young people, as well as the fundamental role of mothers in rehabilitation and hope.
Many stories have marked Santa Mónica’s journey. Among them is the story of Maricel, a young woman whose life seemed to have no respite.
Maricel’s story
Maricel was abandoned by her parents when she was born, and grew up in various foster homes. The profound lack of affection she experienced in childhood led her to seek refuge in substances.
Over the years, she underwent various rehabilitation treatments, but the most painful moment came when the State took custody of her children.
The only way to get them back was to successfully complete treatment, which seemed impossible to her. She had decided to take her life the very day she arrived at Santa Mónica, but something unexpected made her stay: she was drawn to Mother Vicky’s Mexican accent. That small detail broke down her defensive attitude and opened the door to a long and difficult process.
There were setbacks, moments of dejection and nights of apprehension for the Sisters. However, constant accompaniment, listening and professional support allowed Maricel to begin to experience a new possibility.
Mother Vicky recalls a day in particular when she was praying in the chapel and felt that God was personally entrusting Maricel to her, like the Good Samaritan who does not abandon the wounded person he sees along the way.
That experience renewed her patience and her commitment to accompany every person without losing hope.
A short while later, Maricel agreed to be admitted to a specialized centre and her treatment bore fruit, also thanks to the earlier spiritual accompaniment she had received. Upon demonstrating her recovery and stability, she was granted custody of her children.
Today, the Disciples of Jesus’ mission in Tierra del Fuego continues to be a witness of self-giving and hope. Santa Mónica has become a place where many people discover that they are not alone and that it is always possible to rebuild their life.
As Mother Vicky sums it up, “Here, every young person can experience accompaniment in the face of the solitude that society imposes. From the moment you walk through that door and sit here, you are no longer alone”.
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