The Vice-Visitor of Costa Rica, Father Oscar Mata, responding to the concerns of the Superior General, after having news of the earthquake near to the volcano Poàs. He sent this note from the Office of the Press and added some notes on the our situation .
«We have not yet recovered from the recent floods and then came the earthquake 7 miles from the volcano Poàs in Alajuela. The quake was categorized, based on intensity and destruction, as a 6.2 on the Richter scale. In San José and particularly in our houses, it was strongly felt and some 20 seconds long, with constant aftershocks, some stronger than others. The area of the epicenter was practically destroyed with some 20 dead and about 60 missing. Many people are without houses, sleeping in shelters or in the open air. There are towns completely missing from the map, said the press, with ruined infrastructure – roads, crops, herds. In summary, a grand catastrophe. We have contacted some people who have made donations of food that we will receive in a few days.
As you see, we have been affected by this very strong natural disaster, but as always, the people are very united and have shown much collaboration. And now to answer your questions:
- The confreres and the Daughters of Charity are well, nothing happened in our houses. The areas affected were concentrated in Alajuela and the surrounding areas of the Volcano Poás: Vara Blanca, Sarapiqui, Fraijanes, San Pedro de Poás, Poás, and the areas bordering.
- Help is always welcome, and as you say, in these moments at the national level, including the Catholic Church and other churches, we are brought together before tragedy.
- We received from the Curia $5,000 that in the next few days will be put into the hands of the confreres in the parishes in order that they invest in the necessities for the area, such as food or other things needed for living.
Thank you, Greg, for your concern.»
The Superior General has sent help from the Curia but he also wants to appeal to the generosity of each and everyone according to your means to help these brothers and sisters in need. The money can be sent to the General Curia in the name of Father Gouldrick, the Econome Generale, indicating if it is a donation for Costa Rica
