Catholic News, 2 June 2006

Lawe Desky has new church with help from Singaporeans

- by Dr.Gabriel Oon
 

SINGAPORE – Lawe Desky, a mountainous village some 250 kilometres south east of Medan, was one of several east coast towns in Sumatra that were severely damaged by the Dec 26, 2004 earthquake.

From left, Mark Chin, George Thia, Archbishop A. G. Pius Datubara, Jeannie Tien and Dr Gabriel Oon meet during a visit by the Singapore team. Archbishop A. G. Pius Datubara thanked the people of Singapore and all involved for their help.
 

It is home to 4,500 people, mainly Muslims. Half of the Christians, who comprise 30 percent of the population, are Catholics. Co-Archbishop Sinigar of Aceh and Medan wrote to Singapore Archbishop Nicholas Chia in January last year requesting for assistance.

In response, Archbishop Chia sent a team comprising members from the Archdiocesan Crisis Coordination Team (ACCT) and the Singapore Order of Malta to aid the damaged town. ACCT approved a grant of S$100,000 for repairs to the church buildings and for rebuilding six school classrooms following a report by the Order of Malta team that surveyed the damage.
 

The newly repaired church was consecrated in December 2005 by Archbishop of Aceh and Medan A. G. Pius D. Atubara. Work on the classrooms will be completed in May 2006.

The Singapore team has also arranged with Malteser International (the emergency arm of the International Order of Malta) to train paramedics from among the senior students and teachers. ■

(Information source: Dr Gabriel Oon)
 

About 800 students attend Mass at the new Church of St. Josef which includes a strong classroom beneath the altar. It can be used as a “volcanic firebomb shelter”.

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