austraLasia #3316
Prayer,
Facts, Film, Helping Hands...
CEBU:
17
November
2013
-- A
week later, international aid is now arriving in the worst
hti areas in
the afetrmath of the Typhoon in the Philippines. Thre is
increased aid
and support activity going on too in the Salesian worlld,
beginning
with the Philippines itself. In addition to earlier reports
from the
DBN operation, the following are of interest.
Missioni Don Bosco (Turin)
Missioni Don Bosco in Turin is using one of its key
assets (it
has its own online tv site) to highlight the needs in the
Philippines
following Yolanda/Haiyan. Click on the 'emergenza filippine'
image
above. Fr Zuffetti, MDB director, was himself stationed in the
Philippines years ago.
Salesian Missions New Rochelle
Two approaches by Salesian Missions in New Rochelle
(also a
member of DBN) are likely to be very effective in the US
context. They
have a prayer especially written for the event, and a set of
'Fast
Facts':
Prayer For Those Affected By
The Typhoon
Let us ask the Lord for his mercy and help for suffering
people in the Philippines.
Lord, please bring courage, strength and healing to all the
people who
were devastated by that storm in Asia. For all who are
now without
home or livelihood because of Typhoon Haiyan - help them O
God. For all
who have lost loved ones in thedisaster-- give them
faith! For all
who have perished, grant Eternal Life.
For all who will rebuild,---- we give thanks and send strength
and good leadership.
God, give us, here in our homes (far away from this disaster),
the
ability to do something--- a prayer or a donation. Hear
our prayer!
As we approach Thanksgiving , Grant us the wisdomto serve
others as
Christian Disciples. Help us never to forget your
command to love the
poor and needy.
Help us do what we can to relieve the pain of those who
suffer.
We ask this in Jesus Name---Amen.
Mary help of Christians--Pray for Us.
Example from the 'Fast
Facts' sheet:
SALESIAN MISSIONARIES WORKING ON THE GROUND IN THE
PHILIPPINES:
- Currently
the Salesians are targeting to assist 8.5 million persons,
or 200,000
families affected. Salesian Missions, in New Rochelle, NY,
is providing
financial and logistical support.
- Food, water and tents (for temporary
shelters) have been identified as top priorities.
- Immediately
after the typhoon struck, Salesian missionaries, students
and
volunteers began working to prepare an initial 30,000
relief packages
(containing food and survival essentials) to help victims.
These should
be distributed by the weekend.
- Mary
Help of Christians School (in Cebu) opened their gymnasium
to the
shelter people during the typhoon. When water began coming
in, they
moved to classrooms. The buildings held out and they were
able to
offering shelter to victims. They began serving meals
after the typhoon
passed. (Photos available at above link.)
- The Salesians plan to get involved in
rehabilitation work once the emergency phase passes and
assessments are made.
- The
Salesians in the Philippines have designated 11 drop-off
centers to
receive donations in Cebu, Davao Oriental and Negros
Occidental, and
have issued a call for volunteers to help assemble relief
packages. A
list of these sites is available at
www.donboscomissionsfund.org.
- The
Salesians have a large presence on the ground in cities
across the
Philippines, including Borongan. From the main Salesian
headquarters in
Cebu, local Salesians are working to assist typhoon
victims in Eastern
and Western Visayas.
- The Salesians have been working to help
vulnerable children and families in the Philippines since
1950.
FIN - Parañaque que
efforts ; MHC Parish Makati
The
theology students and the EAO Brother's Community at
Parañaque, south
of Manila, have been putting in their bit. As our
correspondent
indicates:
"At 12 noon today, our
confreres at
the Don Bosco Center of Studies in Paranaque, together with
their
students celebrated the Holy Mass for the intentions of
those who have
been affected by the typhoon. Upon the initiative of the student
council, the
students and staff donated goods which will be sent to affected
areas.
Just yesterday, our students
of
theology at the Seminaryo ng Don Bosco in Paranaque, with some
priest-formators,
absented themselves from their class and headed to
Caritas-Manila to help in
the relief efforts. They loaded up three trucks with sacks of
goods.
Meanwhile, the EAO Salesian
Brothers
Community assisted the sorting and packing of relief goods at
the St. John
Bosco Parish in Makati City. They joined the other volunteers
coming from the
Don Bosco Press School of Printing and the Don Bosco Technical
Institute
(Makati)."