Albay churches seek help in rebuilding damaged parishes, homes

(Photo courtesy of Guinobatan Municipal Police Station via PNA)

MANILA – Churches in Albay are looking for fund sources to help rebuild not only parishes but also homes that were damaged by Super Typhoon Rolly.

“While we are working on the immediate repairs of these churches, we do not forget that many homes have been destroyed, and so were sourcing out funds and building materials to help in their rehabilitation,” Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon said in a statement Wednesday.

Baylon reported that a church in Tabaco City was heavily damaged by the typhoon.

“So far, only the church of St John the Baptist in Tabaco City was heavily damaged.

More than half of the roof was ripped off and blown away,” he said. “Masses are being held temporarily at the pastoral center. The same can be said of the barrio parish of San Antonio, Tabaco City.”

At the same time, Baylon is relieved that other churches sustained only minor damage.

“Thankfully, all other churches reported minimal damage so masses can be held inside these churches,” the head of the Diocese of Legazpi said.

Meanwhile, the social action arm of the Archdiocese of Manila initially released PHP1 million for the dioceses that were badly hit by the calamity.

According to Caritas Manila, the Archdiocese of Caceres and the Dioceses of Daet, Virac, Gumaca, and Legazpi City will each receive PHP200,000.

It also launched Caritas Oplan Damayan telethon on Wednesday which aims to gather donations for the victims of the storm.

Caritas Manila executive director Fr. Anton Pascual appealed for the generosity of the faithful and support the undertaking.

“We are holding the Caritas Oplan Damayan telethon to gather funds for the victims of Typhoon Rolly, particularly in the Bicol Region. Most of us in Metro Manila are safe, which is a blessing from God.

It is also our responsibility to help those who were affected by the super typhoon,” he said in an interview over church-run Radio Veritas.

The theme of the telethon is “Thriving in Crisis thru Faith and Charity” which started at 7 a.m.

As of 1:20 p.m., the telethon has raised PHP2,337,380 in donations.