In 2016, Father Perez-Lerena’s long journey of service was nearing its end and it was time to pass this torch of charitable service to the next generation. And so Father Suarez, who had the opportunity to be mentored by the founder, picked up the torch and carried it forward. As Father Suarez stepping into his role as the new Chairman of the Board of Regis House, he too realized the powerful need for all Regis services to remain readily available, completely free of charge and untethered to any demands of religious commitments from the community members in the greatest need. In short, a completely secular service driven by the deeply held values of his Christian faith. As Father Suarez himself so simply and beautifully put it in a recent conversation in regard to Regis’ community service-
H elping Our Friends and Neighbors in Need at Regis House (because helping others is a Christian value we can all share together) When Regis House founder, Father Fransisco Perez-Lerena, first established this Miami-Dade community center and outreach program in 1984 it was with the straightforward idea to directly address the evident needs of young people he witnessed suffering through economic disadvantages, drug addiction issues and mental health challenges. It was clear to Father Perez-Lerena that his community needed help and that this help needed to be his gift to his community. It was also clear that while his abiding Christian faith fully informed his decision and subsequent actions— although not sponsored by his particular Archdiocese— Regis House services of his God and church did not, and must not, require any specific religious commitment from his neighbors in need.
“" When you need help, our mission is to ensure that help is there for you." ”
The good Father also shared that he sees this mission as the precise vision of what his church should be doing every day in every way, as a direct Papal mandate, and also as clearly the most righteous action his faith can perform.
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