One year after the megaitndio in Chile, the Catholic Church prays for the victims and criticizes the lack of solutions

One year after the megaitndio that affected the central area of ​​Chile, the bishop of Valparaíso, Mons. Jorge Vega, joined the community of Villa Independencia, one of the most affected sites, to celebrate a mass and pray for the deceased because of this tragedy.

The Eucharist took place this Sunday in the sacramented Jesus Christ chapel, with the purpose of asking God for the 137 people who lost their lives, for their families, and for the material damages that are still perceived in the area, where the fire devastated with nine thousand hectares and left 16 thousand victims.

Mons. Vega: called for forgiveness and justice

In his homilyMons. Vega encouraged to apologize as a society and also called the State to apologize for the “great failure that is having, not to meet the needs of his people.”

“It also gives anger that stratospheric sums of money are spent on buying houses for museums and the houses that each of the Chileans need, which have been more affected,” Ex -president Salvador Allende Gossens, by the Government, for the creation of a museum in Providencia.

“How can we spend considerable money figures to buy a museum house being that we have so many brothers, so many compatriots who are living almost in a ruck? We have to apologize, ”insisted the bishop.

The prelate also invited to pray for the victims and their families, and for those culprits to cause the megaingle, asking for justice but forgiving how Jesus does, while thanking the signs of solidarity from the emergency, both friends, family, family , co -workers, neighbors, country and abroad organizations.

An answer in front of the hunger strike of the victims

Before the imminent hunger strike of the victims affected, the prelate requested that they take care of their health and the gift of life. “I worry, because the hunger strike does not know what it ends, it can affect health. We already had so many people who died, 137 dead at least, we cannot allow that, because of the neglect of some, we are nursing the same, a group of citizens, we cannot afford it, so I ask them care with this measure ” .

Community work and authorities

Fr. Sergio Herrera, parish administrator of Asunción de María, highlighted That, a year since this tragic fire, “as a community, as a church, as a parish, we have made an effort to remain present here in the town.”

“This is an immensely large sector that was affected by this tragedy,” he said, “so that our effort has focused on being able to accompany and sustain this suffering community, from what touches us that is spirituality and Faith, and from this work we have been able to articulate different aid projects, company, assistance for the affected community, ”he said.

To do this, they had the collaboration of different organizations that offered help with psychology workshops, spiritual accompaniment, technical assistance for neighbors who are still in the process of rebuilding their homes, and social assistance. “We are also very grateful for all the organizations, of the institutions that have supported us in this walk,” said the priest.

However, Fr. Herrera warned that “it has been a time where the authorities have had an answer, at times, insufficient, in front of all the tragedy we have lived.”

“The same fire could even have controlled in another way and yet that did not happen, and all that tells us about different negligence that our authorities have had during the development of the fire and also in the subsequent process, especially to give a solution to all People, to all families, to the community that today is affected and lacks a worthy roof where to live, ”he lamented.

The effort of affected families

Edith Morales, pastoral agent of the parish, emphasized the work of families who were affected by the fire: “Each of the families is worrying about rebuilding themselves, rebuilding their homes,” he said.

“This year has been very difficult and the only thing people expect in the community is that, rebuild the chapel to be able to feel welcomed.”

Another of the pastoral agents, Cecilia Morales, visibly moved, said that “it is a big anguish to remember”, but highlighted the presence of “so many people who helped us, so many people who filled our hearts with love.”

“Thanks to the Lord we are well, we survive,” he said, asking the Lord “the comfort for families” and the housing solution for those who lost their homes.