Letter dictated while a patient at the Clinic of the Catholic University, four days before his death in August of 1952

In this my last Christmas greeting, I would like to say thank you to our known and unknown friends, some at a great distance, who have helped this work of simple evangelical charity which is the Hogar de Cristo.

As I leave to return to God, my Father, permit me to confide to you one last desire: that you strive to create a climate of true love and respect for the poor because the poor man is Christ. “What you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me” (Mt 25,40).

Faithful to its ideal of searching out the poorest and most abandoned to fill them with fraternal love, the Hogar de Cristo has continued with its hospices for men and women, so that those who have nowhere to go may find a friendly hand to receive them.

The young vagrant boys gathered, one by one, during the cold nights of winter, have filled the Hogar to capacity. There are 5,000 that roam through Santiago… If we could only gather them all… and give them an education…! They are constructing a new pavilion with a capacity for 150 children for this purpose; it will offer the necessary conveniences to give them a serious education.

The carpentry, plumbing and tinsmith shops give a trade to these sons of the Hogar. God willing, new mechanical, printing and book binding shops will assist in their labor.

Unknown previously, vagrant girls are now a sad reality. There are 400 already recorded by the police. How many more of them exist, wrapped in misery and pain, sinking ever deeper physically and morally. A new home will open for them very soon.

The House of Family Education of the Hogar de Cristo, already finished, will train these girls for the responsibilities of wife and mother with courses in cooking, washing, sewing, child care, etc. and will loan the House as a service to the entire neighborhood.

The elderly will also have their Hogar, that is to say the affection and love that an asylum cannot give them. We want the evening of their lives to be less harsh and sad for them. Will we find generous hearts to help us realize this desire?

In the measure that the needs and sufferings of the poor come to light, may the Hogar de Cristo, the anonimous union of Chileans with generous hearts, search for ways to help them as they would the Master.

I wish each and every one in particular a happy Christmas, and in God’s name, I confide the poor little ones to you.

Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, S.J., Chaplain.