Father Rafael Maria Fabretto is considered a saint in this little pueblo. His picture hangs in every house, and his memory is honored on multiple occasions throughout the year. The celebration of his birthday includes burning a candle continuously the entire month in front of a shrine made to him complete with the very robe he wore in his lifetime, wrapped in cellophane.
A well meaning man to be sure, who did more to help a poor community in his lifetime than most of us can ever dream of. He was an amazing man with a giant heart who surely saved the lives of many. We should honor men like him, we should remember them always for their hard work and compassion. But we should remember them as the men they were.
We should remember that men are not perfect, and like any man, Father Fabretto was not perfect. In his lifetime he owned this little pueblo, he bought up all the land and helped it to grow from just a couple families to the several thousand people that live here now. Today, legal property ownership can be a challenge to arrange as deeds and distribution of land are mingled still in his memory. There are alliances and obligations among the people here as many are “old” Fabretto people; who as children grew up under his wing, watch, and guidance in education and spirituality. In the community now, these people are honored; they are the community leaders, regardless if they are doing their jobs at the Fabretto school well, or if they even have good intentions.
I can only imagine the power of influence Father Fabretto must have had in his lifetime over these people. I wonder perhaps if he, as the man he was, pressured more of himself onto the people here than we know; if he had relationships we do not know about and that those who do know - don’t talk about. I wonder if this community is his beyond mere ownership of the land.
Almost twenty years later, after Max’s death, the people here are beginning the same practices of honor for him. His photo hangs in the Oratorio, on welcome signs for visitors. He is remembered in prayers beginning the day, meetings, and blessings for the new year. Max was a good man as well, he worked hard for his community and for Fabretto, and he was a happy man, friendly and welcoming to all. Max should be remembered for these positive qualities, however, he should not be turned into the saint that they paint him as. The man had twelve children with almost as many women, seven on which are in Cusmapa. He left behind burdened mothers and abandoned children, who in his lifetime he certainly could not have afforded to support even had he wanted to.
Last week Fabretto fired one of the school directors in Cusmapa after finding out he has two illegitimate children in town that he is not supporting. Fabretto decided they can not have anyone like this on staff when we are trying to teach values to children; that our employees are obligated to always be positive examples for the entire community. So while we are honoring one man for this behavior we are casting another away. I suspect, also, that if we began investigating into the personal lives of all our employees we would find similar faults in many of them.
If we honor a man like this, turn him into a saint after his death, what are we teaching the young men here? How can we expect men here to change when they see machista behavior celebrated?
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