Laura V. Sausedo
Intermountain Catholic
SALT LAKE CITY - More than 700 deaths, plundering, inestimable damages - that is the current stage of Chile, almost a week after the 8.8 earthquake that shook the South American country.
Chile has been used to earthquakes, which have caused thousands of deaths through the country's history. Cities have been destroyed in the past, but the most recent event has created a great responsibility for the emergency groups and for Catholics.
"This has been a catastrophe," said Bishop Alejandro Goic Kamelic of Rancagua, president of the Chilean bishop's conference. "We ache for our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives, and we pray for their families and friends and those who have lost all the possessions for which they have worked all their lives."
Utah has a large community of Chileans. Karla Castro, a Chilean who has lived with her husband and baby for the past seven years in Utah, said that she has been very worried about the well being of her family and friends in her native land.
"Thank God, on Sunday afternoon we received an e-mail of our relatives saying that overall they were OK," said Castro, who attends Mass at The Cathedral of the Madeleine. "My family has had to spend the night sleeping in their cars because the authorities told them that, due to the aftershocks, it could be dangerous to stay in their buildings."
The magnitude 8.8 quake struck at 3:34 a.m. local time on Feb. 27. Over the next few days, more than 115 aftershocks of more than 5.0 were recorded.
"I was so scared when I saw the intensity of the earthquake. I automatically started to try to get hold of my loved ones, and since that was impossible, I started praying," said Castro, adding that she hopes people will pray for all those Chileans in need.
"We are in an emergency that has no comparison in Chilean history. We have signed, with the interior ministry and with the defense ministry, the decree of a national emergency," said Michelle Bachelete, president of Chile, to the media.
Most deaths were in the Maule region, about 200 miles south of Santiago, which is the capital of Chile.
After praying the Angelus on Feb. 28, Pope Benedict XVI said, "I am praying for the victims and am spiritually close to those affected by this serious catastrophe. For them, I ask God to grant relief of suffering and courage in this adversity."
President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who was to take office March 11, faces the task of reconstruction, which he estimated could cost between $15 billion and $30 billion. Up to 500,000 houses were badly damaged or destroyed.
The Catholic relief organization Caritas Internationalis, which provides assistance to the most vulnerable on behalf of Catholics around the world, already has undertaken relief efforts in Chile. Caritas Internationalis President Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said the local Caritas office is keeping them updated on the needs of the people. "Chile has faced a terrible catastrophe," he said. "The Caritas confederation will be there in support of the survivors in this initial phase of emergency response and as they look to rebuild the country."
Caritas centers in 23 dioceses and archdioceses in Chile have been mobilized with help from the parishes. They are Antofagasta, La Serena, Santiago, Concepción, Puerto Montt, Arica, Iquique, Copiapó, San Felipe, Valparaíso, Melipilla, San Bernardo, Rancagua, Talca, Linares, Chillán, Los Ángeles, Temuco, Villarrica, Valdivia, Osorno, Ancud and Punta Arenas.
In the United States, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, offered prayers for earthquake victims in a March 1 letter to Bishop Goic.
"I write to assure you of my prayers and those of my brother bishops in the United States for all who have been affected by this tragedy," Cardinal George wrote. "I assure you also of our prayers for the church and for our brother bishops of Chile."
He told Bishop Goic that Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishop's international relief and development agency, "stands ready to be of assistance to you and your Caritas groups as they work to alleviate the suffering caused by the earthquake."
This article was compiled with information from Catholic News Services and caritas.org.
Stay Connected With Us