Dear Brothers amd Sisters,

Two of our brothers Arun Junes and Joseph from Nagercoil have lost their houses. Luckily their families have escaped the killer waves. Two other brothers Ajith Dung Dung and Varghese Lakra from Andaman received the news that their families have survived.

Twelve brothers from Basic formation in Bangalore, under the leadership of Friar James N. have gone to Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, the worst hit town ( where the well-known shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni is situated). They are helping out with Capuchin theological students in mass funerals and cleaning the debris.

Four other brothers from Bangalore along with Friars Dominic C.J. and Tommy Thekkel have gone to Kanyakumari i.e the southern tip of Indian peninsula to join Br. Divyanathan who has been living and working there for the last six months, in the relief operations.

Our friars in the parishes of Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai are mobilizing help in cash and kind to reach out to the affected people. In Bangalore volunteering youth are being prepared to go along with the next batch of friars to see to those who have become homeless. We are in touch with the diocesan co-ordinators of relief operations in these regions to respond according to the need expressed.

Meanwhile the President and the Vice- President of the Association of Franciscan Families in India (AFFI) are in touch with the Franciscans involved in the coastal belt and getting reports of the developments taking place.

They are hoping, as I understood from Friar Divakar OFM Cap. Minister Provincial of Capuchin province of Tamil Nadu that in the upcoming meeting at St. Anthony's Friary, Bangalore of the FI A hoc committee meeting some long term Inter-franciscan rehabilitaion plan (similar to what was done under the intitiative of our former provincial Scaria Varanath OFM. for the 2001 earth-quake victims of Gujarath)would be evolved.

Hoping to see you all soon.

In solidarity with all those trying to come to terms with shock and pain,

Fraternally

Friar Bobby V.T. OFM.