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About Us |
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Humanitarian
Interfaith
Ministries
Father Joe and Father Saturino Father Joe helping to feed
helping the children of the streets. some of the street children.
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About HIM
Brief Description of the Problem in Central America:
In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused vast devastation in Central America. It left more than 12,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands of people with damaged or destroyed homes. Massive destruction to the infrastructure set these countries back at least 20 years. Because of the devastating flooding and poor soil, many rural families sent their children to the cities in order to beg for food rather than starve in the countryside.
In addition to overwhelming poverty, disease has also orphaned many children in Central America, and AIDS is very prevalent to the area. To exist on the streets, children do whatever it takes to survive, which causes them to beg, steal, eat out of garbage cans and prostitute themselves. Most of the street children sniff or huff shoe glue to take away their hunger pains. For a few cents a week, a child can purchase this illegal and toxic glue at many shops in the cities. This glue is as addictive as heroin, kills brain cells, causes organ damage, and drastically shortens the children's lifespans. Once the children become regular users of the glue, they are often led into other drugs and the drug culture that surrounds the drug trade, including gangs and violent crime.
Child Sponsorship Programs:
HIM manages a Child Sponsorship Program to provide funding to children now living in a HIM supported orphanage by matching sponsors in the United States with children of the streets. Sponsorship of a child living at one of the sites starts at $25.00 per month. This funding supports the comprehensive needs of a child, including food, shelter, education medical and dental care, and counceling.
Individuals have the option to more fully sponsor a child. It takes about $150.00 to $300.00 a month to fully support a child. We try to send sponsors in this program letters and artwork from their sponsored child as well as periodic photos and progress reports on their child.
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About Father Joe Maurizio
Rev. Dr. Joseph D. Maurizio, Jr. is a Roman Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Fr. Joe works closely with Rev. Mr. John Sroka. Deacon Sroka helps to direct Humanitarian Interfaith Ministries (HIM). Traveling to the developing world is no new experience for Fr. Joe. Over the last 45 years he has visited more than 100 countries and has personally witnessed poverty and suffering in many places around the world. In 1996, Fr. Joe Maurizio began to participate on the mission brigades to Hondruas and assist in the medical, dental, and construction ministry to the poor. Fr. Joe foudned his mission programs in Johnstown, PA in 1999.
A picture of Father Joe Maurizio and his mother, Viola Maurizio (who went to the Lord 3 October 2009). This picture was taken when Fr. Joe received the National Four Chaplains Award, presented by Congressman John Murtha, for his community service and international humanitarian work as Founder and President of Humanitarian Interfaith Minsitries (HIM). For over 12 years, Fr. Joe has been working with orphaned and abandoned children in Central America and directing an International Sponsor Child Program which works with approximately 200 children in five countries (Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, and Nicaragua).
Father Joe's mother was his inspiration for ministry and service work in Church. For most of her life she was active in ministries, services, and programs like: The Third Order Regular Franciscans, Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Stephen's Ministries, Family Soup Kitchen, etc.
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Father Joe's Parent's Obituaries and Picture
The National Four Chaplains Award
On October 13, 2008, Fr. Joe Maurizio who was presented the National Four Chaplains Award by Congressman John Murtha. This Legion of Honor Award is given to people who have made exceptional, exemplary, and lasting contributions to humanity and their communities without regard to race, religion, or creed. The award was inspired by the courageous acts of the four Army Chaplains who were serving aboard the USAT DORCHESTER when it was hit by enemy fire and sank in the North Atlantic on February 3, 1943. Other recipients of this prestigious Humanitarian of the Chapel Award are such notables as President Harry S. Truman, General Eisenhower, John Cardinal Wright of Pittsburgh, John Cardinal Drol of Philadelphia, Bob Hope, Admirals Rickover and Zumwalt, Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwartzkopf, Governor Tom Ridge, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholemew I of Constantinople.
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Father Joe Receives National Four Chaplains Award
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Missionaries Among Us--
Article from Johnstown Magazine Featuring Father Maurizio and HIM Ministries
(Article content courtesy of Johnstown Magazine)
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Some Board of Ad visors for HIM
A recent picture of some of the members of the Board of Advisors for HIM. Most of these people have made mission trips into Central America and other countries. Board members are dedicated to trying to help chidlren of the streets become supported in well run orphanages where they will receive care. They also take on other projects to help the poor, especially children who could end up on the streets.
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