WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | 10-23, 2020 | Volume 81, Number 5 Scenes of devastation after an earthquake in Puerto Rico, including a destroyed home is seen after an earthquake in Guanica, left; victims resting at a makeshift camp outside their apartment building in Yauco, center; shelves are seen toppled at a market in Guanica, right. (REUTERS | CNS) Puerto Rico reels under successive earthquakes DENNIS SADOWSKI Father Camacho told Catholic News of the quakes. Gonzalez Medina of Ponce, where The company reported damaged Catholic News Service Service Jan. 7. “What we fear is that Police in Ponce said a 73-year- the cathedral experienced some to one of its main power plants near we continue having these earth- old man died when a wall fell on damage. Mass was canceled Jan. 7 the earthquake’s epicenter, but that WASHINGTON | At least one quakes. If we have bigger ones, the him, reported El Nuevo Dia, Puerto at the cathedral and numerous par- technicians were working to re- person has died and one Catholic damage is going to be very, very, Rico’s largest newspaper. ishes across the diocese, he said. store electricity to other parts of the church was destroyed by the latest very bad.” Immaculate Conception Church “I talked with a priest in charge island. of a series of earthquakes to rock Catholic Charities USA estab- in Guayanilla was severely dam- of social ministry in Ponce,” Father Archbishop Robert Gonzalez Puerto Rico. lished a donation page on its website, aged, Mayor Nelson Torres Yordan Camacho told CNS. “He told me Nieves of San Juan tweeted soon A magnitude 6.4 quake shook catholiccharitiesusa.org. Catholic told a local television station. Pho- even himself he is not traveling to after the quake Jan. 7: “A 6.7-point people awake at 4:24 a.m. local time Extension is seeking donations to tos posted by El Nuevo Dia showed see what is happening (in the dio- earthquake has just shaken all of Jan. 7, less than 24 hours after a help with pastoral needs at catholic residents removing the church’s un- cese) because they are afraid there Puerto Rico that is now without magnitude 5.8 temblor shook the is- extension.org/relief. damaged tabernacle to safety. could be more ruts in the road and light. Prayer, serenity, solidarity land in the predawn hours of Jan. 6. “We stand in solidarity once Father Camacho said the church their lives are in danger. and charity are important. We are Aftershocks ranging in magni- again on the front lines offering our had survived the island’s major Puerto Rico has experienced a one family!” tude from 3.8 to 6 were felt through- support and comfort to those en- earthquake of 1918, only to be series of minor earthquakes begin- Father Camacho said if more out the island following the early during the terror and destruction shaken apart by the Jan. 7 temblor. ning the night of Dec. 28-29 leading powerful earthquakes occur, he morning temblor, reported the U.S. of these earthquakes,” Father Jack “The only church that remained to the major shakers, reported the feared damage in the rural moun- Geological Survey. Wall, the agency’s president, said in on the street (in 1918) was that,” he U.S. Geological Survey. tainous center of the island, where The continuous shaking has tak- a statement. said. “Then 100 years later, with The most recent large quake housing is less sturdy, would be se- en a psychological toll, said Father The latest earthquake sent peo- this earthquake, it is the one that knocked out power to much of the vere. As for an immediate response, Enrique Camacho, executive direc- ple scurrying from their homes into fell down. island, including the capital of San Caritas of Puerto Rico is in a holding tor of Caritas of Puerto Rico, which the streets from Ponce, the island’s “That’s really sad because it was Juan. The Puerto Rico Electric Pow- pattern. is affiliated with Catholic Charities second-largest city, westward along a very historical monument, a tour- er Authority reported that all of its “We are waiting to see what are USA. the island’s southern coast to the ist place,” he added. power plants went offline after its the damages,” the priest said. “We “Right now we are helping the towns of Guayanilla, Guanica, Yau- Father Camacho said he had “auto protection” systems were ac- are willing to help people recon- people with emotional support,” co and Lajas, all near the epicenter been in contact with Bishop Ruben tivated. struct as soon as possible.” n Kenyan Catholic leaders alarmed at increase in terror attacks CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE tranquility in the region,” Father ing further attacks. In the past, Wilybard Lagho, vicar general of al-Shabab has targeted churches, NAIROBI, Kenya | Catholic lead- the Mombasa Archdiocese, told Christians, public places and gov- ers in Kenya are sounding an alarm Catholic News Service. “I think the ernment installations. after a terror attack killed three war on terror is redefining itself in On Jan. 2, militants struck a bus Americans and forced local people the global scale. We are likely to see convoy, killing at least three people. to flee. dormant terror cells reawakening.” Father Nicholas Mutua, justice The clerics feared the attack in On Jan. 5, al-Shabab, the Soma- and peace coordinator in the Ga- Manda Bay in Lamu County — lia-based al-Qaida affiliate in East rissa Diocese, which covers some which occurred amid increasing Africa, raided a military base in parts Lamu County, said the church tension in the Middle East — could Manda Bay, killing one U.S service is extremely worried about its clergy be an act of revenge linked to the re- member and two Department of in the area. cent killing of the top Iranian mili- Defense contractors. Two other “They are hitting soft targets tary leader. It also could be retalia- Americans were injured, said the (which includes the churches). I tion for U.S. airtstrikes targeting al- U.S Africa Command. think this is about revenge. It’s a Shabab fighters after a truck bomb U.S forces use the military base time bomb, and the government in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, to provide training and offer coun- must act fast to ensure the people Smoke rises from a military base in Lamu County, Kenya, Jan. 5, 2020, killed at least 79 people. terterrorism support to East African are safe,” said Father Mutua, adding after the Somali extremist group al-Shabab said it attacked the base. “We are condemning the attack, countries. Kenyans reportedly fled that church officials were constant- One American service member and two U.S. defense contractors were which has disrupted peace and the area in large numbers, fear- ly monitoring the developments. n killed. (XINHUA NEWS AGENCY | CNS) WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Jan. 10-23, 2020 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE A family’s new home, and their new smiles Catholic Charities provides home in time for Christmas Editor’s note: The full name of the housing rent and renovation), and the Catholic family profiled in this story is not Foundation of Central Florida, Catholic Chari- used to respect their privacy. ties of Central Florida purchased seven homes in the Orlando, Rosemont and Pine Hills area, GLENDA MEEKINS according to Gary Tester, president of Catholic of the Florida Catholic staff Charities. Tester explained the houses had sat empty, so ORLANDO | Jess spent nearly 10 years in a the City of Orlando deeded them to the Catholic very difficult relationship. Over the course of agency. Those in need register through the city, that time, she had two daughters. She could not which then links them to Catholic Charities. go anywhere unaccompanied. She could not go Through Resurrection Property Management to college. Services, a Catholic Charities company, poten- But four years ago she found the courage to tial tenants are vetted and Catholic Charities leave. Her daughters were just 4 and 5 at the becomes their landlord. They are now working time. On Dec. 20, she received a surprise that to acquire other homes in neighboring munici- was a long time coming — keys to her new home palities. thanks to Catholic Charities of Central Florida. “Our ministry is to provide affordable hous- Above, Gary Now ages 8 and 9, the girls approached their ing so it’s a great deal for us … This is a huge Tester, president new house with excitement, running up the running start,” Tester said. “We believe in the of Catholic Charities of sidewalk in anticipation. As the trio made their dignity of each human life and this is a family Central Florida, way to the front door, their faces transformed that deserves to be loved. Our opportunity to left, Jess into giant smiles of astonishment. Laughter give them this home and get them settled before and her two mixed with shrieks of shock filled the air. The Christmas is a beautiful gift.” daughters, sit last thing they expected was that it would also Of the seven homes recently deeded to Cath- with Adriana be furnished. olic Charities, Jess’ house was the first to be Valencia, Jess first reached out to Catholic Charities completed. director of several months ago. At first, she had moved to “It was a great feeling to see them at Catholic property her mother’s home. She then went to live in her Charities as they signed the paperwork, then management sister’s apartment, where she and her daughters to walk up behind the girls as they came up services, right, shared one bedroom for the past year and a half.