We received an update on the effects of the earthquake on the CPPS parish in Kalapakkam (Tamil Nadu) from Vicariate Director Fr. Amaladoss Mariasusai on December 31. He writes that in Kalapakkam the community was just finishing Mass at about 9:15am on December 26. As the final blessing was being given, they saw that the water was going to reach the church. Pastor Fr. Irudayaraj took some children with him as he ran into the street. Fr. Raja remained in the church and was fortunate to have saved his life. One of the sisters escaped to the roof with 2 children. 10 parishioners died in the tsunami, and in about 300 more were killed in two nearby villages, many of them fishermen as well as children who had been playing on the beach.
Although water did reach the church of St. Anthony in Sadras (not far from a nuclear power plant), but Fr. Amaladoss writes that all escaped. At this point it is certain that housing will be needed and that the fishermen will need boats and nets so as to earn their livelihood once again.
