Donate – Select “[24ABCF] Help Us Rebuild A Future of Faith, Hope and Love – Church Fire in Chile“

Our Franciscan church, St. Anthony of Padua, and our friary in Iquique, Chile, are lost.

The fire’s cause is unknown, but its outcome is all too clear.

The fire started in the church at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on October 11. It is a miracle that no one was hurt. The only person in the church at the time was a parishioner who volunteered as the sacristan.

Father Claudio Pomarino, OFM, the guardian of the friary, Father Alejandro Ubeda, OFM, the pastor of the parish, and two other missionary friars were returning from Santiago where they had attended Provincial Chapter meetings.

These pictures tell the story much better than my words. The church and friary are a total loss. For a time, they thought the fire was extinguished, but it roared back like a monster.

These buildings were constructed more than 120 years ago. They were made of wood, with a brick façade. St. Anthony of Padua Church was one of our first missions in Chile. The church was declared a national historic monument in 1994.

Donate – Select “Select “[24ABCF] Help Us Rebuild A Future of Faith, Hope and Love – Church Fire in Chile”

The local Franciscan bishop, Most Rev. Isauro Covili Linfati, OFM said, “It is true that this place of St. Anthony is an emblematic place, significant in the heart and in the life of the city and this area. There are so many brothers and sisters, hundreds and thousands of brothers and sisters who have a bond with this place by their faith, by their affection, by family history.”

Our friars lost everything in the fire. They stayed with Bishop Covili for a few weeks before they could find a temporary house to use as a friary. They rented a house about a mile from the old friary. They cannot relocate now. They are needed to serve the 300 parishioners and to continue their outreach to the poor.

Donate – Select “Select “[24ABCF] Help Us Rebuild A Future of Faith, Hope and Love – Church Fire in Chile”

Thank God, no one was killed in this tragedy. Several nearby homes and a workshop were damaged by the fire, and 10 people were injured. Everything inside the church and friary can be replaced. Sad hearts will heal, and the work of our missionary friars will go on.

The parish hall was untouched by the fire and is being used as a temporary hall for the parish to celebrate Mass.

I am grateful to God for the outpouring of support and prayers our friars have already received. Our hearts are truly filled with gratitude to some good people who have already offered their support.

I do know we will rebuild the church and the friary. I know that our friars will continue serving the 300 parishioners and continue serving the poor. These people depend on us!

And I thank God ahead of time for your prayers and financial support to carry us forward, however God’s goodness and wisdom lead us.

Donate – Select “Select “[24ABCF] Help Us Rebuild A Future of Faith, Hope and Love – Church Fire in Chile”

I have some hopeful news to share! A special friend of our missionary friars has offered to match YOUR generosity dollar for dollar!

We can accomplish so much . . . together! If only you would give generously today and have your gift DOUBLED by our dear friend. Your gift of $15 would be $30 towards the building of a new church and friary! A gift of $25 would be $50! A $50 gift would be $100! And a miraculous gift of $100 would be matched dollar per dollar and be $200!

Donate – Select “Select “[24ABCF] Help Us Rebuild A Future of Faith, Hope and Love – Church Fire in Chile”

I am asking for your prayers and financial support to help our friars in Iquique, Chile, pick themselves up, clear the site, and plan to rebuild. Will you join with us to build a new church for our missionary friars in Iquique and secure a future for the great good of our Catholic brothers and sisters who worship there? Will you help build a new friary so our missionaries can continue to serve the poor.

There is so much for our missionary friars to do today and for months to come. Their heads must be spinning! They must continue living in their temporary home and continue serving their parishioners in the church hall. But they have an unfailing faith in God’s goodness and in your friendship which flows so surely from your faith, your hope and your love.

We are so blessed in our country. Thank you for sharing your blessings, through our missionary friars, with many who are poor and forgotten.

I wish you a blessed and merry Christmas.

With a very grateful heart,

Brother Andrew Brophy, OFM

Executive Director

P.S. I ask you as Christmas approaches to renew your lifesaving generosity through our Franciscan Missions. I thank God ahead of time for your quick and generous response to this urgent letter.