EMERGENCY RELIEF DRIVE – PHILIPPINES

Theophilus
14/12/2011
Saint Stylianos Orthodox Children’s Charities Inc

Our Mission to the Philippines, led by the venerable reverend Father Abe D’Iesu in Cagayan De Oro has been destroyed. Thousands there are without food and water. Hundreds are dead. The following is from MSNBC and it is estimated that 1,400 people are dead or missing.

“Cagayan de Oro and nearby Iligan cities on Mindanao island were worst hit when Typhoon Washi slammed ashore while people slept late on Friday and early Saturday, sending torrents of water and mud through villages and stripping mountainsides bare. The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) said 652 people were killed in eight provinces in the southern Mindanao region, with more than 800 missing.”

The venerable reverend Father Abe D’Iesu says that they are in desperate need of food and water. Floods have washed away entire houses with families inside in dozens of coastal villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, and many of his parishioners are without shelter and basic necessities. This is now the second Orthodox Mission that has been destroyed by flooding. Our last mission, on Cahoy-Pacana Street in Cagayan de Oro now lies beneath the water in shambles. The father’s computers and equipment, car and possessions are all gone or demolished. We are requesting that people donate either money, or food/bottled water for this humanitarian emergency. The father wants to help both his own parishioners, as well as all others in need. He himself, has not had the benefit of water for three days now.

Please visit THIS PAGE and make a donation directly to Father Abe and his parish to aid in the recovery effort. For those that wish to ship food and water directly to the Philippines, the temporary shipping address is as follows:

Fr. Abe d’Iesu, M.S.S.B.
Philippine Orthodox Rural Missions, 056-A Cahoy Cmpd.
Cahoy-Pacana St., Kauswagan
9000 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

The father is also looking for second hand sacred vessels and vestments, as well as a sacramentary or lectionary. If you or anyone that you know would be willing to donate these items he would be MOST appreciative. Last week, the father was unable to do Divine Liturgy at all.

You may also donate to a general Philippine fund through their branch of the Red Cross HERE.
URGENT: Additionally, Father Abe needs the following liturgical items to be able to perform the Divine Liturgy, and sadly, funerals, as all of his vestments and sacred vessels were destroyed or washed away by the flooding. If you can help with any of these, please mail them directly to father Abe, or contact us. Father Abe (for the purpose of vestments) is 5′ 4″ tall.

1. Communion Chalice
2. Diskos
3. Spear and Spoon
4. Censer
5. Chalice Veil
6. Tabernacle
7. Candles
8. Incense
9. Priests Prayer Book
10. Any vestments… Roman, Western, Russian, Greek, Syriac… it doesn’t matter.

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