News & Events
Argentine parents experience Nazareth hospitality during Haitian adoption process
February 4, 2010.
Flanked by Srs. Linda Yankoski and Kate O'Malley, Corina and Dario Pacheco of Argentina beam at their new daughter, Rosalindha, 17 months, one of the adopted Haitian children airlifted to Pittsburgh in January. Corina and Dario Pacheco of Argentina recently experienced Nazareth hospitality as their quest to adopt 17-month-old Rosalindha from a Port-au-Prince orphanage took them to a CSFN convent in Pittsburgh. Here's how their story unfolded: The Pachecos have four other adopted children; when they decided to try to adopt another child, they would have had to wait 10 years to adopt another Argeentine child. So they researched adoptions from other countries and chose Haiti. The January earthquake occurred eight days before they were to go to Haiti to pick up Rosalindha. The toddler was one of the 18 children who arrived at Holy Family Institute (HFI) in Emsworth, PA, on Jan. 21, for temporary shelter as they awaited adoption or a more permanent placement. Sr. Kate O'Malley met the Pachecos and Rosalindha last week when the couple came to Pittsburgh to see Rosalindha. Because the Haitian children are under the juristiction of the immigration office in Pittsburgh, any visits with them must be supervised by a member of the immigration office staff. Sr. Linda Yankoski, president & CEO of HFI, arranged for the supervised visit to occur in the homelike setting of Sr. Kate's convent in Pittsburgh. Two more visits occurred on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and on Monday, Feb. 1, the Consul for Argentina in Washington, DC, drove to Pittsburgh to pick up the new parents. The group arrived at the convent for the official exchange of Rosalindha from the U.S. Immigration office to the consul, "government to government," Sr. Kate noted. Consul, parents and Rosalindha then drove to the consulate in Washington, and on Tuesday, they were approved for travel back to Argentina. "We were delighted to make our home available to this wonderful family," Sr. Kate said. "They are warm and loving people." Dario Pacheco owns an auto parts company in Mendoza, Argentina. Corina Paccheo is a therapist for special needs children. Of course, Sr. Kate did more than 'make our home available' to the Panchecos. Concerned that she had nothing to offer them for their additional supervised visits on Saturday and Sunday, she rose early on Saturday and baked oatmeal cookies, then went grocery shopping so she could offer her guests vegetable and fruit trays. "On Saturday, Dorio and Carina were concerned about Sunday Mass," Sr. Kate recalls. "We arranged for them to go to Sacred Heart for 10:30 Mass." For a bit of sightseeing, she took them to see Mt. Washington and ride on the Pittsburgh Incline. "We also gave rosaries blessed by the Holy Father, Steelers mug with a Pittsburgh logo and of course some American chocolates." After Sunday Mass, Sr. Kate and the Pachecos went to the grocery story to buy provisions for their new daughter for their journey home. "While we were shopping, Dario showed me pictures of their four children in Mendoza and a picture of their dog." Who was taking care of the family back home? Dorio's and Carina's mothers were with the children while the couple traveled to the U.S. for Rosalindha. On Monday, Feb. 1, everyone was back at the Pittsburgh convent for the official transfer of Rosalindha. "I must say it was a very touching moment for me to witness this exchange," Sr. Kate says. "And to think it took place in our dining room, on our dining room table!"
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