Dear confreres,
Since yesterday, I have been receiving messages from confreres, relatives and friends after our island was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 7.2. Many asked about the situation of my parents and siblings. Of course they panicked especially that people who are leaving the seashore have to evacuate as tsunami might follow. Few people came to our house to seek for an asylum. There was no electricity and a shortage of water. They were also disturbed by the aftershock which came repeatedly. According to the report, it came about 800 times. I thank the Lord that they are all safe as we are here in Cebu!
In fact, I am supposed to go for my eight day retreat to Bohol but, when I went to the pier to take a boat, I found that the trips are canceled. The pier at the capital city of Bohol is also damaged. I could have gone to other piers but traveling by land on the island is very tricky at the moment. Many bridges, roads and houses are destroyed. Some of our historical churches are swept badly, around ten of them. Luckily, the church in the parish where I come from is not totally damaged but the bell tower and part of the infrastructure have fallen. We will see what the people can do. I believe that in due time life will be back to normal.
Let us join together to pray for all who are affected and that they may be united to build their churches again.
Dioscoro Malugao, M.Afr
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