Pope's death and crash test faith on quake island
Pope's death and crash test faith on quake island
Agencies, Gunung Sitoli, Nias
Somber survivors gathered outdoors on Nias island on Sunday for their first Mass since last week's huge earthquake, mourning the death of Pope John Paul II and nine Australian military personnel killed in a helicopter crash.
As a service began at the large Santa Maria Church in Gunung Sitoli, the main town on this majority Catholic island, a strong aftershock measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rattled the building, sending about 150 panicked worshipers spilling outside.
The Mass resumed after the altar, candles and cross were brought out of the building. Other churches in the town could also be seen holding outdoor services.
"Our suffering has multiplied because we have lost our leader, His Holiness the Pope," pastor Mikael To'pr, who led the service as worshipers sat in the open on plastic stools, said in his sermon.
He urged the congregation not to lose their faith in God because of the recent series of tragedies.
"Many people are asking why did this happen, why did God let this happen or even does God still exist," he said. "We do not need to ask why. The important thing to remember is that God is with us. Jesus is still with you."
Last Monday's massive quake came as the region was still recovering from the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 126,000 people in the country, mostly in Aceh.
Last week's quake left tens of thousands of people homeless on Nias and two other island groups, Simeulue and Banyak, with at least 594 people confirmed killed.
A majority of the 800,000 people on Nias are Christians, although only about 8 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people follow Christianity. Most of the rest are Muslim, making the country the world's most populous Islamic nation.
Father Mikael To'pr said the death of the Australian military personnel on Saturday added to the shock and sadness of the islanders.
"After I heard about the helicopter that crashed near Teluk Dalam, I felt shocked. They came to help us, but now they are victims also," he said.
A witness said the helicopter crashed on a soccer field and burst into flames. Local television showed burning wreckage as villagers tried to put out the flames with buckets of water.
A woman who lost her husband and three children in last Monday's earthquake wept during the sermon.
"I prayed that I will be strong enough to withstand this and to be able to take care of my other two children," said Angeline Indah, 43, after the service.