I wanted to bring you up to date on Chile. Cecilia is there. She returned from Linares (7th region, Maule) to Santiago on Friday with 24 ND and Marquette students and turned them over to the families they will live with in Santiago for the semester. The quake occurred early the next morning. After I found out about the quake I came right to Bethany and started calling and for several hours didn't know anything. I then got an e.mail (and a tremendous sense of relief) from here and that is the way we communicated until Sunday night when I was able to speak with her. She is fine and all the family is fine but the situation is difficult. She spent most of the weekend working with the coordinators from Catholic U. making sure all the students were located and fine, talking to their parents and helping to locate our missioners in Chile. We had one lay missioner who was in Pelluhue (see slide show on www.msnbc) and we didn't hear from her until late Sunday evening. You can imagine how her family was. Even though it is Lent I sang a loud alleluia when I saw that message come across my screen. As well, a Maryknoll priest and a Maryknoll brother were not located until Monday morning. All Maryknollers are now accounted for and fine.
The epicenter was in Cuaquenes, located in our diocese of Linares. Our whole area sustained great damage. I am attaching a couple of pictures, one of the house we lived in back in the '80s in Nirivilo and the other of neighbor just down the block. They have lost most everything.
If you have people interested in helping I suggest Caritas Linares. The director, Father Waldo Alfaro Martinez is a good friend of ours and he is leading the relief efforts in the rural areas. You can trust any gift will be well used.
Cecilia was to have traveled today but the airport is closed until at least Monday. Keep her and all of Chile in your prayers.
Much peace,
Sam
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