Pope Francis makes a Sunday morning visit to a social center in Temara, on the outskirts of Rabat, and encourages the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul in their efforts to help the poor of the area.
By Devin Watkins
Temara is situated some 20km south of Morocco’s capital Rabat, along the road to Casablanca.
In this suburban area, three Daughters of Charity run the “Rural Center for Social Services”, providing around 150 children with material and psychological care.
Pope Francis took a moment during his Apostolic Visit to Morocco to greet these three sisters and the local Muslims for whom they care, during a private visit.
Care for poor families
Sister Gloria Carrilero, Superior of the community, has staffed the Center since 1990. Sister Maria Luisa Quintana arrived two years later, and Sister Magdalena Mateo came in 2006. All three hail from Spain. They live in the midst of their Muslim neighbors without a fence around their house or bars on their windows.
The Center was founded 44 years ago to cure the burns that children and adults often suffer as they cook over open fires outside their homes.
The Daughters of Charity are assisted by local Moroccan teachers and nurses, as they open their doors every morning at 8:00 AM to welcome 40-odd children between the ages of 3 and 15. The children are provided with breakfast, a snack, and lunch, and with school lessons.
The sisters also help local women with formula, diapers, and food for their newborns. They even organize courses to help illiterate women learn to read and to count change when they go to the market.
