Family Rosary – Chile
Submitted by Catalina Poirier, CSC
It was 11:30 A.M. on the 13th of May, remembering that it was the day of Our Lady of Fatima and noticing that the many diverse means of social communication were giving more attention concerning the World Cup in Africa than that of the situation of those who suffered significant damages in the earthquake and tsunami, those in the office heard the door ring and there was Mr. Martin Andres González Sánchez, President of the CALETA (Fishermen's Club) in Iloca, Chile.
Mr. Sánchez came to us to obtain a Rosary, for his daughter who has terminal cancer. He explained that she had pleaded with him to bring her a Rosary. That was how he opened his conversation with us, in a broken voice and with tears in his eyes, He also shared what he and all the workers in Iloca had been experiencing since the earthquake and tsunami.
He continued telling us that, "The community is desperate. There is little spirituality and many of the families have nothing to feed to their children." As a result, they organized themselves with community kettles in which to prepare whatever food they could obtain to provide only ONE meal for each person per day.
There were eight fishermen from Iloca who went to Santiago because the necessary help had not yet arrived. Martin went to pick up a donation by a businessman. It contained a piece of clapboard which measured 3x3 meters, meant to protect his daughter who had cancer and who will have to face a rough winter very shortly.
The families of Iloca believe that the Church also has forgotten them. For a few of the inhabitants, death is all that is left, but that answer is not shared by the majority of the people who struggle day by day just to carry the heavy family load.
Martin came to Santiago to ask for some type of help through many means of social communication but was bringing back a big deception when told "YOU ARE NO LONGER NEWS". These words were like swords for these men who spent eight days knocking from door to door, searching for help or something to bring back to their community. Help should have been WELCOME for them.
Martin arrived at our office after hearing of us on Radio Maria. We listened as he explained that their need was not being heard. He mentioned how painful it was for him to lose one of his sons in the tsunami. But nevertheless, this man did not lose faith and hope because God and Our Lady gave him strength every day. Martin left with his ROSARY OF HOPE very humbly for his community in Iloca to bring to his daughter what she requested but with a heavy heart from the trip to Santiago.
As we pray for all families around the world, especially those struggling, please keep the families of Chile close in prayer.