WEST INDIAN EARTHQUAKE SALESIAN UPDATE
Mumbai - 30th January: The Salesian Sisters write that despite some minor damage to community buildings in three locations, they have come through largely unscathed. One Sister had been attending a course in one of the cities worst affected, Ahmadabad, and there has been concern for her well-being. Although she has not been contacted, they have learned that the place she was to be located was, fortunately, not badly hit.
An excerpt from the communication of the SDB Provincial to his confreres will be of interest:
THE LETTER OF THE PROVINCIAL OF MUMBAI TO HIS CONFRERES
Dear Confreres,
We thank God for preserving our communities in Gujarat which have been affected by a devastating earthquake. Some of our buildings have been affected with cracks here and there. However, no major damage has been reported.
It is for us now to respond to the emergency situation in Gujarat with our own contribution as per our possibilities. Our confreres in Gujarat will spearhead our relief programme and request our financial support and if possible volunteer service.
The most urgent need at the moment is for food and clothes. We have made an initial pledge of Rs: 10 lakhs (US$ 20,000) While we keep you briefed on our relief programme development, may I request all out institutions and parishes to appeal for help in terms of cash or kind. I suggest that you forward the same to the Provincial Economer's office which will coordinate our contributions from the Maharashtra and Konkan Delegation areas. All our schools in Gujarat are closed till the end of this month. As a sign of solidarity, the feast of St. John Bosco and other functions are being held on a low key.
Let us pray for the poor afflicted people who have survived the earthquake and reach out to them in this dire need even at the cost of sacrificing something even in our personal and community life.
Thanking you for your cooperation.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Tony D'Souza sdb
