About Us

Founded in 2005, the Merciful Love Connection supports the work of the Sisters of Most Merciful Love at the Refuge of Mercy. The Refuge is a home for adolescent mothers in Santiago Chile. The Sisters founded this refuge in 1927 to address the unmet needs of adolescent mothers who, along with their infants, were abandoned on the streets. The Sisters spend their resources on the mother in the belief that a strong mother will raise a strong child. If a young mother elects adoption, she may work with an adoption program so that she will be psychologically ready to relinquish her parental rights and, if she chooses, can meet the adoptive parents.

 

Most of the young women who seek refuge are victims of rape or incest. They are offered counseling to cope with the trauma they have experienced. They also receive spiritual guidance, the opportunity to finish grade or high school, and to learn personal, parenting, and job skills. The number one goal of the Merciful Love Connection is to support the young mothers by investing in the future of the Refuge.

 

Our Vision

The Merciful Love Connection envisions a world that embraces the intrinsic value of life and cultivates dignity by providing all children with a safe, healthy, and secure environment that enables them to reach their God-given potential. We envision a world where every child is free from gender discrimination and from physical, emotional, and sexual violence.

 

Our Mission

In collaboration with the Refuge of Mercy in Santiago, Chile, the Merciful Love Connection helps the adolescent mother embrace life with her child. The Merciful Love Connection promotes awareness of the Refuge and gathers resources and financial support to meet the needs of the young mothers and their infants. We focus on the education of the mothers and the physical maintenance of the refuge buildings. By offering education for the young mothers, we strengthen their ability to provide a future for themselves and their child. By repairing and renovating the buildings, we solve safety issues, help restore the dignity of the occupants, and provide for the future of the Refuge. With the completion of remodeling projects funded by the Merciful Love Connection, the capacity of the Refuge increased from twenty to twenty-four residents. At present, about five young mothers are turned away from the refuge every month.

 

History of the Merciful Love Connection (Read more)

History of the Refuge (Read more)

Meet the Board of Directors  (Read more)

Volunteers in Action (Read More)

Letters from the Refuge (Read more)

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