Missions in Morocco | Rodrigo, at the orphanage La Crèche of Tangier: “I like to think that we are the arms of Christ, letting them know that they are loved”
For a few years now, Cumbres School Valencia has been bringing high school and college students to La Crèche of Tangier, an orphanage which cares for abandoned babies and children. This summer of 2024, 30 young people and four leaders (two Legionary priests and two laypeople) travelled there. One of the young people, Rodrigo, tells us that “the language was not a problem; hugs are universal,” and that “every day we began with Mass to give meaning to our work there.”
The group of missionaries from Cumbres School Valencia have had a great experience of the Church and of the mission. They stayed in the convent of the Carmelite Sisters, with whom they shared Masses, Adoration, and moments of fellowship, and they were also received by Brother Emilio Rocha, Archbishop of Tangier. “My motivation for going to Tangier began with the desire to transmit Christ’s love to those who are forgotten,” explains Rodrigo, one of the young people from Valencia. These students of the Regnum Christi school, in addition to helping in the orphanage, supported the Franciscan Brothers of the White Cross.
What moved you to participate in this mission in an orphanage in Marocco?
My motivation for going to Tangier began with the desire to transmit Christ’s love to those who are forgotten. I knew about the work they do in La Crèche, and I joined these missions that Cumbres School does every year.
The fact that they feel loved makes me give of myself without thinking about myself.
What is your day with the children like?
Every morning we begin with Mass to give meaning to our work there. Then, we all have breakfast together in order to organize the day, since we don’t only go to the orphanage, but we also have groups that accompany the Franciscan Brothers of the White Cross in the afternoons. Their work with the disabled is marvelous.
In the orphanage, we team up with the people who work there to attend to the babies and older children with some type of disability. You truly see the joy in their faces, and I like to think that we are the arms of Christ, letting them know that they are loved.
Each afternoon, when we return to the Carmelites’ convent, we put at Christ’s feet everything we have experienced. With him, everything has meaning.
What challenges do you face: language, culture, cuisine, traditions…?
Though it might seem to be the opposite, religion has not been an obstacle at all. This has actually helped me erase my prejudices about other cultures and religions. The language was not a problem; hugs are universal.
These days in the orphanage have helped me realize that we have to be thankful for everything we have: a family, an education, wellbeing, and above all, a hopeful and comforting faith. The children at the orphanage are very well taken care of, but its employees are unable to give them the affection they would like, which is why our visit is so appreciated.
As we were saying goodbye, one of them, Choruk, said to us over and over with tears in her eyes, “shukran,” which means “thank you” in Arabic. The fact that they feel loved makes me give of myself without thinking about myself. You truly forget about yourself to give everything.
Much has been given to us, and we must offer much in return. Love is repaid with love.
Can you share some special moment from these days with us?
The first day, when I stepped into the orphanage and saw the enthusiasm on the children’s faces at seeing us arrive, I was very impressed. They didn’t know us at all, but there was an instant connection. Their smiles brought out our smiles.
Do you have a song, a Bible verse, or a book that especially resonates with you during these days of missions?
The Gospel passage that has become meaningful these days is Mt 25:31-46: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Much has been given to us, and we must offer much in return. Love is repaid with love.
