"With a heavy heart for what is happening in these days in Valencia, I am writing to inform you, in the midst of many messages and slogans that arrive through the various media and social networks, about the situation of our Salesian presences in that area. From the Provinces of our Mediterranean Region, and also from others in Europe, they asked for information about our situation and from afar they remember us in prayer," Fr Fernando Miranda, Superior of the Province of Spain's Mary Help of Christians Province (SMX), based in Seville shared in a statement in which he thanked them for their closeness and concern for the events that occurred.

"These days I have been in contact with the Rectors of the houses in Valencia. Structurally, they have not suffered any damage. The San Antonio Abad Work located in the northern part of the city, and San Juan Bosco, which is located in the southern part of the city, thanks to the new large riverbed of the Turia river was not affected. Both houses, all their facilities, mobilised in solidarity to help as volunteers, loading and unloading trucks with various items of aid and were also involved in the ‘flood of solidarity’ that brought thousands of people to the affected areas to help. Added to this is the work of reception, listening and closeness to families who have lost loved ones or the activity that was their livelihood. Both Rectors stressed the widespread sense of sadness, loss and pain that manifests itself in so many different ways," he continued.

The Salesian houses in Valencia were forced, at the request of the Municipality, to suspend classes to avoid the displacement of the population and facilitate relief work. Since 31 October they have been in contact with the Caritas Emergency Committee in Valencia "to coordinate the different responses according to needs", as explained by Mercedes Ayza, Pastoral Coordinator of the San Antonio Abad work in Valencia. The Delegate for Communication at the San Juan Bosco centre, Rafael Gomar, explained that they spent the entire weekend collecting food, filling vans and sending them to the affected areas. In addition, at the request of the Department of Education, the schools will temporarily welcome students from the areas most affected by DANA, as soon as they resume teaching activities.

"I also spoke with the Rector of the house in Godelleta, which is located in one of the affected areas," the SMX Provincial said in his message. Apart from the water that entered at first and the fall of some trees, it did not suffer great damage. Not far away, however, some areas and houses were affected by the sudden rise of some streams. In Godelleta, the storm surprised a group of young people from FISAT (the body that manages the social projects of the Salesians in the Valencian Community), who were there with their educators. They had to stay indoors until they were able to return to Valencia the following day, but they suffered no damage. Thanks to their help, the water that entered the lower part of the house could be drained more quickly, " he explained, insisting that none of the Salesian houses in the Provinces of Cadiz and Castellón, where it also rained heavily and which were in a state of red alert, suffered damage. The same applies to those in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, where the alert has moved in recent hours.

Among the numerous solidarity initiatives that have been developed in recent hours, the involvement of young people and their concern to be useful in this complex context stand out. The Federation of Youth Centres in the Valencian Community is managing the work of volunteers from Salesian presences, together with the Valencian Youth Council, to act in coordination with the affected municipal administrations. The FISAT Foundation also called on its volunteers to contribute to the cleaning operations. On Saturday, 2 November, together with thousands of people, all these young people went to the City of Arts and Sciences to be distributed in the different affected areas.

There have been numerous expressions of solidarity from all over Spain. A few kilometres away, from towns such as Burriana, Alicante or Elche, or thousands of kilometres away, from cities and houses such as Úbeda, Linares, Rota, Cádiz, Malaga, Villamuriel de Cerrato, Pamplona, Guadalajara, Barakaldo, Alcalá de Henares, Puertollano or Ciudad Real – just to name a few – initiatives have been carried out on behalf of the affected population: collections of food or cleaning materials, bottled water, sleeping bags or products for personal hygiene, pet food and other basic necessities. Initiatives such as the sale of sweets or fundraising during various events have also focused attention on this purpose.

“Now it's time to continue to help as we are doing. As we have done on other occasions when bad luck has affected people. First, not forgetting who is suffering there, collaborating in the collection and sending of basic necessities: food, clothes, shoes... always in dialogue with organisations that can provide guidance on the most urgent type of aid and that are reliable channels to get aid. From an economic point of view, being the most effective way to guarantee direct aid on the spot, we recommend channelling aid to organisations, preferably through Caritas. As in many other places, solidarity is a long-distance race against oblivion, normality and routine that end up erasing from our memory what happens far from us, "Fr Fernando Miranda added in his message, thanking the coordination carried out in these first, decisive hours.

The commitment of Salesian presences, united in solidarity and prayer, also deserves to be underlined. A special memory was also made at the beginning of the Congress of Youth Centres that was held last weekend in El Campello, with a gesture entitled: "Encouragement for all those affected". Among the messages of support they wrote: "Courage and faith, everything will be rebuilt with bricks of love".

"In the midst of so much pain, the presence of so many people who rush to help in so many different ways shines. Many of these people are young, even entire families who cannot remain impassive and get involved in what is happening. Hope continues to flourish, ever stronger, even in the midst of so much pain. God does not forget his people who suffer and cry", Fr Miranda concluded.

Pope Francis has joined the many expressions of solidarity and support for those who have been affected by DANA in Spain, in what is one of the most devastating climate catastrophes in recent national history, which has caused hundreds of deaths and many still missing. In a video message, the Supreme Pontiff wanted to express his closeness to the victims. The Salesian presences also conveyed their support and solidarity with various initiatives and their concern for all those affected.

Salesian Communication

Source: Salesianos.info

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