Local News

Sept. 7, 2006

Founder of community homes for orphaned children dies at 82

By J.D. Long-García
The Catholic Sun

A priest who founded community homes for orphaned, abandoned  and disadvantaged children in Latin America died in his Cottonwood home Aug. 16.

Fr. William B. Wasson was born in Phoenix in 1923 and later moved to Mexico where he was ordained into the priesthood in 1953.

The priest, a St. Mary’s High School graduate, founded Nuestros Pequños Hermanos, or “Our Little Brothers” in English, in Mexico in 1954.

It all started when a hungry young boy stole money from the church’s poor box, but Fr. Wasson didn’t turn the boy in. Instead he gave him a home, food, clothing and an education.

“All he did was start by trying to help one boy and it grew into more than 15,000,” said Deacon Jim Hoyt, executive director of Friends of the Orphans in Arizona. Friends of the Orphans supports Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in the United States.

“One of his sayings was that there’s not too many children in the world who need to be taken care of, there’s just not enough people willing to help,” he said.

Deacon Hoyt said Fr. Wasson’s parents taught him how to live social justice every day.

“It’s important for us as Catholic parents to promote the dignity of life and the care and concern for others,” he added.

Fr. Wasson “was always amazed that children would open their own hearts and their own pocket books to take care of children their own age,” Deacon Hoyt said.

The nine directors of the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos homes in Latin America gathered with local Catholics for Fr. Wasson’s funeral at St. Mary’s Basilica Aug. 24.

Passionist Father Rick Frechette, the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos International Caribbean director, gave the homily. He was at Fr. Wasson’s bedside in his last days.

“Your work has just begun and we will continue it,” he said to Fr. Wasson.

Fr. Frechette reflected on being in Fr. Wasson’s presence.

“You feel his enthusiasm, you feel his sincerity and suddenly you feel these invisible ropes pulling you to a place you never thought of going,” he said of taking responsibilities with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos.

The passionist priest said a person must take on challenges with the confidence that God will grant the ability to do His work.

“God uses human beings and fully relies on our humanity to achieve what God wants to do,” Fr. Frechette said. “God uses our humanity to advance God’s cause, and Fr. Wasson is no exception.”

Fr. Wasson is often quoted saying, “It’s amazing what you can do in a lifetime if you just do it a little at a time.”

Thanks to his efforts, Nuestros Pequños Hermanos programs, including the homes, hospitals and clinics, now serve more than 30,000 children. Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos requested memorials be sent to Friends of the Orphans.

For information, call 1-800-528-6455 or visit www.friendsoftheorphans.com.