Viatorian Staff Member Reaches Out to Latinos
12/16/2011

Most days, Noé Quiroga works behind the scenes at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, helping to maintain its staff offices and residence wing for retired priests and brothers. Increasingly, however, he is drawing attention throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago for his role as an organ donor --- and as a trainer with ESFOR, its formation program for Hispanic young adults.

Quiroga can be seen on the cover of the latest edition of Catolico, published by the Archdiocese for its Spanish speaking members. Under a headline that reads: Time for Generosity, Quiroga poses next to Alicia Leva, who was the recipient of his kidney donation nearly five years ago.

He continues to help Leva, who is blind, get around Chicago’s Northwest suburbs, but he also works to promote organ donating through the “Gift of Hope” program.

“They need more Latinos,” says Quiroga, who is a native of Chicago. “I tell people that it can save lives.”

Quiroga also remains active in his faith, helping to lead retreats and service projects through ESFOR. As an extension, he participates in an online weekly broadcast aimed at drawing young Hispanic adults into participating in their faith. They call their show, “EnREDa-T,” which roughly translated means to be entangled or wired.

“It’s a good way of reaching out to other young adults that aren’t very active at this point,” Quiroga says. “We want to bring them in.”

To find out more about organ donation and the need for more Hispanic donors, visit: www.giftofhope.org.
To learn more about ESFOR, at: www.hispanicministryChicago.org.