The family of a young Trenton boy severely injured in a December accident will be among those helping to promote this year’s Walk of Hope, a Trenton-based Catholic Charities program designed to help reduce poverty, promote recovery and strengthen families.

 Members in Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, the family will participate in the March 28 Walk of Hope at Mercer County Park, West Windsor. The three-hour event will start at 9 a.m. with check-in and T-shirt pick-up.

The seven-year-old boy, Jose Rivas, suffered severe injuries Dec. 14 when his right foot got caught at the side of an escalator step at the Oxford Valley Mall in Langhorne, Pa. He received surgical treatment and was bed-bound for several weeks. He started using a wheelchair in January and began to walk again the week of Feb. 23, much earlier than anticipated. But recuperation continues.

 “It is very important – our faith is very important,” Maria Jimenez, mother of the youngster, said last week in her native Spanish, in noting how her Catholic faith got the family through their winter trauma.

 She said the family is thankful for ongoing support from their parish and staffers at Catholic Charities, “and we give thanks to God.”

 Father Cesar Rubiano, parish administrator, said Jose is in the first year of a two-year program in preparation for First Holy Communion. “I spoke with the family and they are willing to help promote [the Walk of Hope efforts]…The money will go to the programs of Catholic Charities,” Father Rubiano said.

  “I think at this point everything is better; the sisters from the parish have been with them and I have been with them,” he said, noting that Jose lost all the toes of his right foot. The out-pouring of well-wishes was very important at that moment…and now they want to be helping in return,” said Father Rubiano.

 The two parish nuns who have been assisting the family are Filippini Sister Carolyn Houck, parish pastoral associate or faith formation, and Filippini Sister Domenica Troina, who is responsible for pastoral care at the parish. Catholic Charities’ involvement with the family has been primarily through El Centro, a family resource center focuses on providing resources and assistance to the Latino community.

 Like his mother, Jose said he and his family are grateful for the counseling and support of their parish community, and the public-awareness efforts of Catholic Charities and the Walk of Hope program. “Es muy bueno (It’s very good),” said Jose, who hopes to soon be able to again play his favorite sports, soccer and basketball.

Organizers of the Walk of Hope are encouraging people to form event teams, obtain sponsors and join the walk. They said the course length is 3.2 miles (with optional 1- and 2-mile walks). Check-in begins at 9 a.m.; the walk starts at 10 a.m., and is estimated to end at noon. Mercer County Park is at 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

 “Last year we had our first walk; we had such a wonderful turnout that we decided to make it an annual event,” said Marlene Lao-Collins, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Trenton. “The camaraderie and friendships that ensued made it a pretty positive thing.”

 Upon learning that Jose was walking and no longer in a wheelchair, Lao-Collins was delighted and said she is certain that this had a lot to do with the boy’s faith and resilience, and “all the prayers” from throughout the community.

 Close to 400 walkers gathered at last year’s Walk of Hope, helping to raise a net of $30,000 to support various programs of Catholic Charities, organizers said. They hope to have even more walkers join them this year. The event will be held rain or shine. The registration deadline is March 23.

To participate, sponsor, or for more information call Jennifer Leip, 609-394-5181, ext. 1137.