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Mission parish of Diocese of New Ulm affected
San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala -
A destructive mud-slide hit the community of El Porvenir, San
Lucas Toliman, Guatemala Thursday evening, September 12th, at
approximately 9:00 p.m., engulfing and destroying a number of homes
and taking lives. At present, twenty-eight people, over half being
children, are dead and several are still missing. El Porvenir is one
of several small communities served by the San Lucas Toliman Mission,
a mission parish of the Catholic Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota.
Father Greg Schaffer, pastor at the San Lucas Toliman Mission,
explained that the mud-slide started high in the mountains and
brought with it rocks, trees, and water. The Porvenir plantation was
able to be purchased through the San Lucas Mission Parish two years
ago with funds from a group in Belgium and the land was given to the
people to become independent farmers. The most common theory at this
time as to why the mud slide occurred is two-fold - forest fires of
this past dry-season caused loss of heavy brush higher up the
mountain (above El Porvenir) and considerable de-forestation above
the community itself over two years before the purchase of this land
for the people. Apparently the water rushed from two different
directions, then converged into a single fast and strong current down
the mountain forming a single stream before hitting the community
housing area. Approximately 40-45 of the 70 houses were destroyed.
Two hundred, fifty people have been relocated to temporary shelters.
Caritas de Guatemala, Ministry of Agriculture, the municipality of
San Lucas Toliman, neighboring communities, CNEP (emergency
institution of the Guatemalan government, and groups from the parish
of San Lucas Toliman have helped with food, blankets, clothing, and
tents for shelter. Emergency Services by the Bomberos of Patulul,
Santiago Atitlan, and other communities have assisted with the
injured and are searching for more victims or casualties. The
Guatemalan military have come in to help with all areas of work
during this emergency.
Bishop Raul Antonio Martinez from the Diocese of Solola celebrated
the funeral Mass for twenty-three of the victims on Saturday in San
Lucas Toliman in the town meeting hall - a larger space than the
church. There are plans to rebuild the community.
Funds to help this devastated community can be sent to the San
Lucas Mission Office, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073.
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