04 November 2024
Bilbao Campus San Sebastian Campus
The University of Deusto has expressed its solidarity this Monday with the victims of the floods in Spain. The Eucharist for the dead scheduled for this day on the campuses of Bilbao and Donostia have been an opportunity to remember the suffering of so many people, particularly in the Valencian Community, by the ravages caused by torrential rains, overflowing rivers and floods since last Tuesday, October 29.
In the Masses, in which members of the entire university community participated, candles were lit and prayers were said for the victims and those affected by the catastrophe who, as the Provincial of Spain of the Society of Jesus Enric Puiggròs SJ said in a letter sent this weekend, “need help and encouragement, in a time when sadness and anguish threaten to break down the dike of hope”.
The University of Deusto has joined the efforts of the whole Society of Jesus in Spain to respond to the crisis, channeled especially through the institutions of the Society in the Valencian Community and the social sector of the Province of Spain: help is being offered from the facilities of the San José Schools and the Arrupe Center (as a collection point for food and other needs), beds and mattresses have been delivered from the former Retreat House, the nuns of Jesus-Maria have made their house available to the needs of reception, SJM (Jesuit Migrant Service) is referring cases to different channels of help... It is a work that is carried out under the following premises:
- Collaborate in a joint response of the institutions and people of the Society.
- Collaborate from the outset with other organizations, particularly Caritas.
- To support the most immediate needs, but also with a medium and long term perspective, since this humanitarian crisis will be a long one.
- To accompany, to the best of our ability, the many material, human and spiritual needs that will arise, focusing on the most vulnerable people and communities.
In order to organize and channel all the solidarity of the people and institutions of the Society of Jesus, a reference web page has been set up to collaborate and receive information: https://emergencias-sj.org/emergencia-dana/.
Finally, we are also invited to join online the prayer vigil to be held on November 5, at 19:00 hrs, at the Arrupe Center in Valencia: https://www.youtube.com/@CentroArrupeValencia
