Living Faith

Fighting for safer neighborhoods

Rafael Anglada is a hard working and down-to-earth father who often cannot sleep thinking about the children in families who have been evicted from their homes due to drug problems, violence, or overdue payments.

Actress inspired by faith and work

When you think of an actress, you may envision a young, thin, tall, and beautiful woman. Well, I don’t fit that image at all,” says Cuban actress Marlene Forte. TV viewers, however, who have watched episodes of CSI: Miami, The West Wing, Bones, and The George Lopez Show, may find her to be a very attractive person.

At-risk youth find a home at Girls and Boys Town

by Elisabeth Román

There is a place in Chicago that is rife with problems but also full of joy and hope. It is known as Back of the Yards, an area of poverty, where gangs, drugs, and violence thrive and almost 70 percent of the population is under the age of 18.

Doctor opts for mission over wealth

by Carmen Aguinaco

Faithfulness to God’s call doesn’t always bring material rewards. In fact, sometimes it might even bring pain and sacrifice, which is not to say that, paradoxically, it doesn’t give happiness. At least that is what Dr. Kathleen Henry experienced when she moved from her comfortable home in the Midwest to live among the poor and homeless in Los Angeles.

Community organizer finds her passion away from home

by Stephanie Garza

When I was a student at the University of Notre Dame, I once went home to Texas for a vacation. Adapting to university life had been hard, and I wanted to stay home. But my father said: “It’s time for you to go back to school. It is where your dreams are. You no longer live here.” Luckily my father would not let me take the easy way out.

How Quinceañeras can help girls to grow up

by Rebeca Descalzo

For Hispanics, the celebration of a quinceañera is a cherished rite of passage, marking a girl’s transition from a child to a young woman. It is a traditional celebration but also a celebration of faith and of family values.

Getting an education is a duty of faith

by Carmen Aguinaco

The headline that jumps off the pages of Hispanic magazine reads: “One third of our high school students [throughout the entire country and all ethnic groups] drop out before graduating.”

Music brings out best in parish youth

by Elisabeth Román

Imagine a group of kids from a poor neighborhood of Chicago recording CDs and taking tours around the country. Although clearly happy about the result, this was not what Claretian Father Bruce Wellems intended when he founded the Marimba Ensemble at Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart of Mary. What he did intend was to give young people a place to develop their talents in a safe environment away from the dangerous streets of the neighborhood.

Art Velásquez keeps the faith

by Elisabeth Román

Arturo Velasquez’s mind is as sharp as anyone 70 years his junior, while his dedication to his work and vocation to help the Mexican community in Chicago is nothing less than admirable. He portrays a strength that can only come from God.