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CHILE: Chapels of hope to be built after earthquake despair
By John Newton and John Pontifex
An artist's impression of a tent chapel
Temporary chapels are to be erected in parts of earthquake-devastated Chile, thanks to a grant being sent out today (Thursday 18th March) by Aid to the Church in Need.
The charity is providing 15 makeshift chapels in dioceses most affected by the earthquakes, including Rancagua, Talca, Linares, Chillán, Concepción and Los Angeles, where 70-90 percent of the churches are now unusable.
It comes after the earthquake of 27th February and the tsunami that followed, which devastated a number of coastal towns and villages.
Church estimates now say nearly 500 died following the quake, which measured 8.8 on the Richter scale.
According to reports received by Aid to the Church in Need, since last month up to 270 earthquakes have struck the region, half of which were at least 5.0 on the Richter scale. Some of them have been followed by tsunamis.
Outlining the £189,500 Aid to the Church in Need tent chapel project, Ulrich Kny, the charity’s project coordinator for Latin America, underlined that the temporary structures were suitable for earthquake conditions.
Mr Kny explained that the tent chapels could be taken down and erected in other areas after the reconstruction of churches damaged by the quake.
Explaining that each tent had a maximum capacity of 100 people, he said he was confident that the chapels would help revive Church life in Chile.
He added that the scheme was being coordinated by Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic of Rancagua, president of the Bishops’ Conference in Chile.
Mr Kny explained that in most of the affected area, Mass was being held in the open air but within a few weeks winter would come, with very low temperatures and heavy rainfall.
Mr Kny said: “The people are in constant fear of the after shocks and the possibility of new earthquakes and tsunami.
“The only thing that is giving them hope is their faith. It is very important that the chapels can go ahead so that people can express their faith and rebuild hope. Many of them have lost everything.”
He said that, depending on the outcome of Aid to the Church in Need’s appeal for Chile, the charity hoped to respond to more requests which have come in for temporary chapels in the region.
Aid to the Church in Need has received messages of thanks from a number of bishops who praised the charity for its swift response and for its expression of solidarity and prayer.