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April 8, 2019PURCELL – On March 17, 13 students and seven adults flew to Puerto Rico to spend their spring break repairing damage done by a devastating hurricane two years ago.
The group worked with Caritas International of Puerto Rico and stayed at a retreat center on the island where they were awakened each morning by competing roosters.
During the first three days, the group repaired damage to a capilla (small chapel) in the town of Yabucoa along the southern coast, very close to where the hurricane made landfall. The group repaired windows, fixed two toilets and repainted both the interior and exterior of the chapel. The longest workday was on March 19, the Feast of Saint Joseph, when the students worked until dark. In the evening, students had discussions and reflections on a Scripture reading pertaining to service.
On the fourth day, the students worked with Caritas to pray, deliver food and visit the elderly and sick. One elderly woman described how she stayed in her home during the hurricane and the wind and water swirled all around her, but her house was left untouched. She said these words under a large print of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrada Corazon) to which she owed her protection and safety.
At the end of the fourth day on the island, everyone gathered for a big Mass of Thanksgiving, complete with singing and praying and crying. In those four days, students experienced the faith of a group of men and women whose lives had been changed by the hurricane.
The residents had been praying for someone to rebuild the chapel and believed the Oklahoma group was the answer to their prayers.
For many of the students, the trip was the first time they had been on a plane or outside of the United States.
Father Jim F. Chamberlain is pastor of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Purcell.
Photo: Students stand in front of the finished chapel after painting and renovation.
