1284 "Bus sent by Providence", says Fr Zago, Superior of Pakistan mission
austraLasia 1284
"Bus sent by Providence", says Fr Zago, Superior of
Pakistan mission
LAHORE: 11th October 2005 -- "Actually and
fortunately, I came to Lahore to purchase a 40-seater (mini)bus
sponsored by Misereor for our school program in Quetta. Now I
realise this transportation is sent by Providence to help us reach some
places in the disaster area". So writes Fr Peter Zago, Superior
of the Salesian mission in Pakistan which comprises works in Lahore and
in Quetta. He was writing to the Mission and Development Office
in Bonn, in a heartfelt plea for aid for the stricken North-West
Frontier region of Pakistan.
Fr Zago had also come to Lahore to discern with the
other three Salesians there the response that the Salesian communities
with their staff and boys could give to the disaster. "After
prayer and discernment, we have decided to enter into the stream of
immediate help to some area suggested by the local organisers of the
relief program with the assistance of the Military. We thought
that Don Bosco would surely do the same if not more".
The letter confirms the facts outlined briefly in
the previous austraLasia (though one line was accidentally chopped, in
sending, at the 'materiel' point; the original added the fact that the
Quetta bus had been purchased). Fr Miguel, with three aspirants,
has already left by public bus to Islamabad, and from there they will
enter the area known as Abdanabad much affected by the earthquake and
from where the Salesian community with its backup of young volunteers,
travelling up in the new bus, will begin to help directly in rescue
operations under the general guidance of local authorities. They
have purchased tools for digging and repairing, food, clothing....
The two Salesian communities have chipped in what
resources they can muster - some Rps. 50,000 apiece, but are obviously
seeking other financial assistance from the Mission and Development
Office to further their mission.
Fr Zago concludes his letter, invoking the
assistance of Mary mother of all people who, like her Son, die and
suffer. It is a touching letter that may also touch other
hearts. Fr Zago's email is pzago@hotmail.com
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