On September 30th, a devastating earthquake measuring at a magnitude of 6.9 struck the Cebu Province of the Philippines – reportedly the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Northern Cebu. The earthquake had a shattering impact, killing at least 75 people, injuring over 1,200, and causing huge infrastructural damage, with homes and businesses alike destroyed. Reported as the deadliest earthquake in the country since 2013, it has demolished buildings including churches and hospitals, and ruined countless livelihoods.
MSCs in the region have been providing emergency response aid to as many people as possible in affected communities, with the MSC Centre for the Poor working alongside the MSC Mission Office and several other support teams and volunteers. On October 7th, an outreach programme took place in Bogo City, providing emergency essentials such as food and safe drinking water to over 700 families in Brgy. Anonang Sur.
“The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart – Cebu District conducted a relief operation together with the parishes under their care (Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish-Babag, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish-Marigondon, Our Lady of Fatima Parish-Pusok, Nuestra Señora de Regla Parish National Shrine and San Roque Parish-Cordova) and with support from the MSC Mission Office Philippines, Fr. Jules Chevalier, MSC Mission Center, St. Alphonsus Catholic School and MSM Sisters,” reports the Facebook page for the MSC – Center for the Poor Cebu District.
Thanks to the continuing generosity of our mission friends and benefactors here in the Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, we have been able to provide our MSC brothers in the Philippines with emergency financial aid to support their urgent relief projects in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they work to help families and communities across the Cebu district to rebuild their lives in the ongoing wake of this natural disaster.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MSC MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Images via the Facebook page for the MSC – Center for the Poor Cebu District