Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, Archbishop of Lima made an appeal from Rome, where he has been participating in the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Pontifical Commission for Latin America during the past few days, asking the faithful participating in the “Great Mission of Lima” to create a support chain to send aid to their brothers in the south of the country-in Puno and Cerro de Pasco- who are suffering the effects of a cold wave.
“I have thought of the Great Mission of Lima, that through a support chain they may be able to provide non-perishable food items, clothing, whatever each one can offer, just as we did last year, we ask each parish, each home, each neighborhood to put in their ‘grain of sand,’” Lima’s Pastor explained. Cardinal Cipriani sent words of encouragement to those suffering the effects of the low temperatures in southern Peru and asked the faithful participating in the “Great Mission of Lima” so that they may collaborate in this support chain with concrete measures and thus, begin to see the first fruits of the mission.
The Cardinal also sent a message of peace and comfort to “those Peruvian brethren in higher altitudes” and asked that all faithful begin taking immediate action so that the collections being made in parishes and centers may commence as soon as possible, “to show that the Great Mission of Lima implies concrete actions and it is not just an idea floating in the air.” The Archbishop of Lima showed his confidence in that the support chain would be immediately begin functioning and encouraged the faithful to collaborate in accord with the indications marked by Civil Defense.
Auxiliary Bishop of Lima, Bishop Adriano Tomasi Travaglia, during a Mass celebrated in the Cathedral in Lima, echoed the words of Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani sent from Rome, referring to the need to give life to the “Great Mission” through a support chain of aid for their brothers in the south. The Auxiliary Bishop of Lima asked that all the parishes and homes to participate in the support chain, in collaboration with Caritas Lima, “because the Gospel is life and love; not only devotions and words.” “Our brethren in the south await our help at this time; may we be generous.”
Like every year, the change of season is a concern as the people living in the higher areas of the central and southern Andes mountains in Peru suffer drastic changes in temperature which often result in hailstorms and cold waves. According to the National Weather Service (Senahmi), the southern part of the country- especially Puno- is expected to experience freezing temperatures from April to September.
Caritas Peru has launched a Solidarity Campaign entitled, “Abriga una Esperanza” (Clothe a Hope) in order to help those in need. As of now, 61.6 tons of aid has been sent to the most heavily hit areas of Abancay, Sicuani, Juli, Ayaviri, Puno, Huancavelica, and Arequipa. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 12/5/2008; righe 38, parole 492)
