Honduras Update

From: "Dolorita Martinez, OP"
Subject: update on San Pedro Sula
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 15:03:34 -0500

Update on U. S. Dominicans in San Pedro Sula, Honduras:
[A New Collaborative Missionary Venture initiated by the Grand Rapids Dominicans this past year. Joan Williams, OP, Bernadette Mooney, OP(Grand Rapids, MI) and Doris Regan, OP (Columbus, OH) are working collaboratively with the Central American Friars in San Pedro Sula.]

Several calls have come in inquiring about our Sisters in San Pedro Sula and how they are coping after the devastating situation following Hurricane Mitch. The Sister and the Friars are fine and trying to help out as best they can. According to an e-mail on 11/4 from Joan, "no part of the country has been spared. In this morning's paper more than 2,000,000 are homless (1/3 of the country's population) and death toll continues to rise from the statistics of today that was reported at 7,000. Food, water and medications are in short supply. There are still areas where people are still not being reached?.Here in San Pedro Sula the churches, schools and universities are hosting more than 5,000 refugees, some of whom are trying to go back to their villiages, destroyed homes or no homes. The whole country is under curfew and military siege?in part this order is due to the flooding of the main prison in Tegucigalpa, the capital city. Many of the prisoners escaped while being bused to the prison in San Pedro Sula, which already has 1,500 prisoners beyond its capacity. Supposedly, 3,000 were added to this number."

The Sisters have joined in the efforts of preparing food for the refugees and the efforts of the Mercy Sisters who care for HIV+ children. We the Grand Rapids Dominicans have wired them some money to assist the cause. Some of you have inquired as to how you can help out. If you wish you may send contributions through us, as we have a banking system for our Sisters that allows us to get money to them immediately.