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Reverend Frank Colacicco (September 22, 1930 - February 15, 2006)
Last year we lost another great priest and close friend. In 1997 Father Frank was retired and living in Danville. It was then that he learned about an orphanage in Nicaragua and decided to do something to help them. What started small turned into a major undertaking with many people contributing their time and talents. Father built and furnished a church on Ometepe Island, a chapel on the mainland, an amphitheatre for seating 600 people in Honduras and provided funds to help build a chapel in El Salvador. Under Father’s guidance several shipments a year full of clothing, supplies, toys, appliances and medical equipment were being sent to orphanages in five Central American countries. On one occasion Father received an urgent request for 100 baby beds because the government of Nicaragua was planning to bring 100 babies to the orphanage. Donations poured in and in a month and a half the beds were packed and on their way. Father Frank had the foresight to setup a non-profit charitable organization that would keep the focus on “his children” long after he was gone. Father Frank’s Kids was established in 2004. While his work is continuing, Father is greatly missed by all who had the opportunity to work with him. He will never be forgotten. |
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Summer and 60% in the Winter. There just isn’t an infrastructure to create jobs. Labor is willing but there is nothing to do. This sounds like stories we heard about our own depression era. For us it took the government to create jobs in the Civilian Conservation Corps. People were hired to fix roads, clean up streets and parks, etc. just to get them working and money flowing into the economy. As they spent their earnings more jobs were created. For this to work in Bosnia, they would have to have a cohesive government which they don’t. The three factions still exist so suspicions run high. It’s sad to see that some of the refugee camps still exist and have now become “home” for those who are there. These are problems that are beyond the ability of One Family to solve. So we looked at what we could do, where we could help. We focused on the children who are still struggling, still victims of a war that ended 10 years ago. We visited an orphanage that is truly amazing. Not a big building full of half-clothed children as you would imagine in a “third-world” country, but individual “family” homes that were built with donations from all over the world. The homes are designed to house 8 children and two “parent” caregivers. All of the children go to school and eat in a common area. The space between the homes has grass and a large play area. The sound of children playing and laughing is the most beautiful music you could imagine. As we absorbed the sounds we realized that this is what we wanted for all those children we saw in our travels through this abused country, for all of those little faces we saw with tears in their eyes that we wanted to hug and assure it would be OK. The orphanage also has a separate facility for young adults who are there because they need help breaking their addiction to drugs. We had the opportunity to talk with some of them. Their stories are heart wrenching and it’s obvious they are very appreciative to be there. The builders of this orphanage are making a difference in a big way for these children. This is a very special place that will provide healing care for many years to come. The orphanage is far from complete. Their immediate building needs are for a |
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place to house large gatherings, for more “family” homes and for a chapel. Getting involved in this is an opportunity to make a contribution with a lasting return. Helping them is a different type of undertaking for One Family since it doesn’t involve sending shipping containers full of aid, but this may be the most rewarding project we’ve ever undertaken. We invite you to join us.
NOTE: It is appropriate that this article ends up on the same page as the article about Father Frank. He too found orphanages that were doing amazing things for abandoned children. He was touched by the children’s voices as we were and he too felt a calling to lend a hand. What a model for us as we undertake this new project. We couldn’t ask for a better guide. |
