AMERICA/CHILE - Church in Chile praying for miners' rescue

Copiapo (Agenzia Fides) – The main streets of Copiapo, some 830 kilometers north of Santiago, have been overrun by motorists sounding horns and trumpets. The city, located in the Atacama desert, with over 200,000 inhabitants, has awakened decorated with flags. They are celebrating because the day has finally arrived for the rescue of 33 miners trapped 67 days at 700 meters depth in the mine of San Jose. All the churches in the country will accompany the effort with vigils of prayer and Masses, until the last man is back on the surface. It is scheduled that once the miners have come out of the mine, they will immediately be taken to the hospital in Copiapo, where they will check their health conditions.
According to the press office of the Chilean Bishops' Conference, Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic, President of the Bishops' Conference, has encouraged all believers to unite in a crusade of prayer for the success of the operations: "This is a propitious moment for the country, to pray and remain united as a Church in faith and hope."
The Bishop of Copiapo, Bishop Gaspar Quintana Jorquera, celebrated Mass for the miners, and reported that on the spot, above the mine, there are prayer groups. "We, as the Catholic Church, are organizing a thanksgiving Mass at the Cathedral and the Shrine of Our Lady of the Candelaria. La “Virgen de la Candelaria” is the patron saint of miners. We are organizing everything now, so it is ready when all the miners are rescued," he said. There are already 6 miners who have been brought to the surface so far. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 13/10/2010)