Marist works in Mexico after two earthquakes
After the two earthquakes that struck southern Mexico on Sept. 7 and then Mexico City on Sept. 19, a Marist Brother revealed that the first one caused a great deal of damage to Marist works, while the second, none.
The Sept. 7 quake of 8.2 degrees struck southern Mexico, mainly the states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Tabasco.
“In this region we, the Marist Brothers, have a work in the town of Ixaltepec (Oaxaca),” said Brother Luis Felipe González Ruiz, from the México Central province.
“This work has been affected in practically everything, it has been rendered useless and it will have to be demolished just like the Brothers’ house and the boarding school that houses the work,” he added in an interview with the general house press office on Sept. 26.
The Asunción Ixaltepec Bachillerato educated 120 students and accommodated 84 of them, who came from distant regions.
Marist schools in Mexico have begun a campaign to cover the most urgent food needs and a provisional roof. Many Marist alumni and provinces around the world have joined these initiatives.
In the medium term, the Brothers are developing a plan to have temporary venues to restart classes.
In the long term, they hope to rebuild the work of Ixaltepec and other premises in the same region, where other Marist schools have also been damaged.
Br Luis Felipe, who is participating in the 22nd General Chapter in Rionegro, Colombia, underscored that “the entire population has been greatly affected.”
The second earthquake of Sept. 19 did not affect the Marist works of Mexico City, the area that was mostly affected.
“All our works are fine, as well as the staff who work with us and the students,” said Brother Luis Felipe. “However, the situation in the surroundings remains complicated and aid is still needed.”