Updates

Flood Damage

Relief Proposal

March 3, 2006 - At this time the diocese is still in the process of gauging the damage and consequent needs.  The auxiliary bishop of the diocese, +Mario Morino, will be traveling to Salta shortly to give a report of his first hand awareness of the damage.  Once more is learned, specific needs will be posted.  Please check back for updates and keep this crisis in your prayers.

March 10, 2006 - Bishop Mario Morino, Auxillary Bishop of the diocese, has returned from a visit to the areas affected by the flood.  He reported his interactions with those affected last Friday (March 3^rd):  “We encountered them along the road-side, disheveled and hungry.  We had not brought food as our own finances are inadequate.  All we could do was pray with them.”

April 9, 2006 - The flooding crisis seems to be getting worse.  National papers and news-channels in Argentina are now reporting on the disaster directly from affected areas.  Indigenous communnities are being evacuated around the town of Tartagal where houses and bridges have been swallowed by the river.  A journalist from La Nación newspaper did a graphic report on aid-relief visits to indigenous communities aound Misión La Paz (Tartagal) by helicopter as the first cases of dengue fever were reported. 

One church in Northern Ireland has committed itself to financially helping toward the reconstruction of one church-building.  It comes as a tithe of what they budgetted for modifications on their own church.  Praise the Lord!  Funding for the reconstruction of the other nine church buildings has not yet been raised.

July, 2006 - A short-term team from St. Matthew's, Newport Beach works in Bario Sol and San Martin in the province of Formosa.  Working with the local Wichi communities they assist in the construction of 2 new churches for displaced communities.

February, 2007 - Plans are underway for this year's trips.  At least one team will re-build a church in proximity to Potrillo in the province of Formosa.