Dear brothers and friends,
As you know yesterday an earthquake measuring more than 7.8 degrees devastated parts of the Ecuadorian coast.
Gradually, the country is becoming aware of the magnitude of the disaster. Currently there are 280 dead, but the Archbishop of Portoviejo (Manabi province, the most affected area) speaks of thousands of deaths. In fact, several teams of priests from the Archdiocese of Quito leave tonight for Manabi to bring comfort and hope and help bury the dead.
There are areas that have not yet received first aid, and others like Pedernales that are completely destroyed.
We had seen the pictures of the major earthquakes in Japan or Chile and this is what happened also in Ecuador. We know people there who are very dear to us. Manabi is the province in the country that has the most internal migrants, and it is not uncommon in the Eucharistic celebrations that people of our communities pray for their parents, siblings and relatives. Some are still missing, no communication, many in their homes flat out on the ground.
The physical devastation is so atrocious that one is shocked to see the force of nature: 5-6 story buildings, splintered on the ground, concrete roads that appear broken; and in that rubble, the cries of children and adults waiting to be rescued. For all, it was a day of a lump in the throat and our hearts broken.
Thank God, all the SSCC brothers are healthy and safe. Our most affected area is La Concordia, where the parish church suffered so much damage that it had to be immediately demolished. Today, the Eucharistic celebrations were in the central park of the city. In the coming days, working together with the bishop of Santo Domingo, we will take measures to preserve the safety of all and somehow begin the reconstruction. Our brothers from the province of Manabi are paining for their families over the property damage of the earthquake: the family of Juan Carlos Velez (currently Socius of the Interprovincial Novitiate in Peru) and relatives of José Castro (who celebrates 25 years of priesthood Wednesday) have completely lost their homes and most of their belongings.
Thank God for the solidarity that is in full swing and working well. Our parishes have become collection centers for food and clothing. To-night, the first truckload of materials from the episcopal Vicar of our SSCC parish of San Carlos in Quito will leave for Manabi.
Please remember in your prayers our country and all who suffer at present the consequences of the earthquake. As so often happens unfortunately in such incidents, it is the most fragile, and the defenseless who are first hit.
I will keep you informed of the situation and our actions as Congregation.
Thank you all for your messages of solidarity and concern.
David de la Torre, sscc
04/17/2016