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In utter desperation, Adela sought the help of her spiritual guide, Father Nicanor Avertano. He introduced her to another young woman, Sister Berta De La Fuente, who was looking for a new challenge in life and religious service.
Together they came up with a totally innovative solution for the church of their day whose interest reflected the attitude of the times and was more geared toward prevention and protection of the young mothers than in the rehabilitation of “fallen girls”. They started the foundation “Congregation de Amor Misericordioso de Jesús y Maria Reparadoras Eucarísticas” (The Congregation of the Loving Mercy of Jesús and Maria Resorer of the Eucharist)
With the authorization and blessing of the Archbishopric of Santiago, the Congregation began their lifelong service to young single mothers and prostitutes that continúes to this day.
In 1928 they opened the mothers home “Refugio de Misericordia” (Refuge of Mercy) and started receiving young mothers with their babies. The building also housed a small clinic to treat and care for all mothers who had contracted social diseases.
The work of the Refuge of Mercy has continued changing through the years along with the times and the social reality of Chile. Where for many years most of the mothers were rescued and rehabilitated from prostitution, now the home cares almost entirely for pregnant teenage mothers at social risk.
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