marianist.com/donate • 13 By morning, he and his parents were huddled in a bathroom where they prayed and consoled one another. “We haven’t experienced a hurricane like that in nearly 100 years,” says Brother Francisco, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico. After the hurricane subsided, they began the arduous task of recovery. Downed trees and debris were everywhere. With powerlines strewn around the city, it was both exhausting and dangerous to journey outside. “But getting diesel fuel for the school’s backup generators was critical,” says Brother Francisco. Fifteen days after Maria struck, Colegio began holding classes, a herculean feat considering that nearly half of all public schools remain closed. “We worked very hard those first two weeks to clean up the school and begin classes,” says Francisco, acknowledging that this was one way to help the students and their families regain a sense of normalcy. Much of the damage to the school took place in Colegio’s new gym where the wind blew off some of the roof, causing water damage there and throughout the school complex. From early estimates, the facilities sustained about $1 million in damages. Counting their blessings Pedro and Pilar, both Lay Marianists, recount important lessons they learned in the aftermath of the storms. “We thought we had good neighbors,” says Pilar, but acknowledged that, with their busy lifestyles, they didn’t know one another well. After Maria passed through, and there wasn’t a tree standing in their neighborhood, they came together as a tight-knit community. “We worked as a team to clean up, starting with one house and then the next,” says Pilar. “We fanned out across the city. One bought water for everyone; someone else bought food for everyone; another bought diesel for everyone. We were like family.” They also grew closer to their children. “We went for 85 days with- out electricity, which meant we didn’t have an Internet connection, cable TV, nothing,” says Pilar. But they did have each other, which opened up time for “some of the greatest conversations with our kids.” Another amazing thing about not having an Internet connection, says Pilar, is that she never heard her kids complain. “No one’s kids complained. They worked hard alongside us during those 10-to-12-hour days as we cleaned up. I am so proud of them — and all of the people of Puerto Rico.” The long road to recovery One of the Marianist community’s biggest concerns is for the people living in Villalba, an impoverished village in the central mountains located near Padre Vincente, a retreat house run by Colegio. “Once we were safe to move about, we went there with food, ice and water,” says Brother Francisco. Winds from Maria reached 175 mph on this part of the island, downing buildings and causing massive mudslides. “There weren’t any leaves left on the trees,” says Pedro. “It looked as if a bomb had gone off.” Since the roads became passable, he and Pilar, along with parents of students from Colegio, have been making the trek to the area to bring medicine, food and supplies. “It will be months before they get electricity,” says Brother Francisco. In spite of these enormous challenges, he is grateful. “I want to thank all of the people of the Marianist Family who have given generously to help us.” Colegio started the year with 540 students, the largest enrollment in the past 10 years for this all-boys school. The increase was due, in part, to the addition of a sixth-grade level to round out the middle school. Nine students left for the States with their families immediately after the storm, but the final tally of students departing the island may not be felt until next fall when school resumes. “We are still doing well compared to many other schools,” says Brother Francisco, who remains hopeful in spite of the work to be done in San Juan and around the island. Yet he knows the months ahead are fraught with difficulties. “Your prayers and support keep us going,” he says. “Colegio has been here for 100 years. I trust that God is bigger than hurricanes and will help us through this, too.” ■ Brother Francisco González, SM Colegio San José shown immediately after Hurricane Maria How you can help: It will be months before life in Puerto Rico stabilizes. To lighten the burden for CSJ families, please consider making a donation toward tuition assistance. You may use the envelope enclosed or go to marianist.com/donate or call 1.800.348.4732. PHOTO: ANTONIO MARÍ