I have received an email this morning from a friend of mine requesting help for a fellow human with a real tragic story. I believe in my heart that we can do something to help by extending a hand and spreading the word, so please read on …

Dear friends,

I’m writing you in regards to the email below from Father Kevin, the
priest of the English-Language Parish in Amman. One of the things that
I value in this church is its call to social action and part of that
is helping those who do not have any other means of support. In
regards to the situation outlined below, Father Kevin has gone to a
number of organisations but as he has found, while there are funds to
help Iraqis, Palestinians and others of Arab descent, this isn’t the
case when it comes to situations where Filipinos, Sri Lankans or
Sudanese get into a bind.

I know that we all have our own call to service where we expend our
resources (time and/or money), but if you are moved to help this one
individual with a donation of JD5-JD10, I believe that in numbers, we
can help this woman.

Feel free to contact Father Kevin directly or to reply to this message.

All my best,

This email was sent to my friend:

As I mentioned to you on the phone, I have been approached by the
actiing Labor Attache at the Philippine Embassy for assitance
concerning a Filipina, Maria Paz Facturan, who had been hospitalized
at the Italian Hospital for the past 3 weeks, since 23 December 2006.
Maria is 35 years old & has been in Jordan for more than 6 years, but
without a permanent job, & her income supports her son.

She went to the Italian Hospital complaining of severe stomach
pains (either from an ulcer or cancer), & the hospital staff judged
that her situation was severe enough to warrant immediate surgery,
which was performed the same day. I have spoken to Maria on the phone.
She is ready to be discharged, but she cannot be released from the
hospital until her outstanding bills are covered, or at least until
payment is reliably guaranteed. The acting labor attache told me that
Maria’s estimated total bill is between $2,500 & $3,500. I believe the
hospital has given her some reduction (probably from the fund
established by the Comboni Sisters to aid needy patients), but I was
told that she needs at least JD1,400 to cover the balance of her bill.
Each day that she remains hospitalize, her bills increase. I plan to
contact the hospital administrator as soon as possible after the
weekend to get an official statement of Maria’s situation & the amount
of her unpaid bill.

The labor attache told me that Maria had requested help from the
Philippine Embassy and from the Philippine Overseas Labor Organization
(POLO), but these entities do not have resources to help her,
especially since they are significantly over budget for the
maintenance of some 174 wards in the hostel that is maintained for
distressed Filipinas by the Philippine Embassy & the Philippine
Government’s Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA).

I currently celebrate Mass weekly for residents at the OWWA
hostel, & I am acutely aware of the difficult circumstances under
which the residents are housed there, pending resolution of their
various cases or problems. In fact, during the past few months, I have
raised a total of JD 1,600 to purchase 61 mattresses (for residents
who had been sleeping on cardboard on bare floors, due to lack of
beds) & 120 blankets, as well as a further JD 731.350 to supplement a
major year-end shortfall in the hostel’s 2006 food budget (which had
been projected for only around 75 residents during 2006, rather than
the current 174 residents).

At present, the English-Language Parish has only about JD100
available to help with Maria’s medical crisis, & the acting Labor
Attache personally pledged a further JD 35 from his next salary
payment. I am intending to take special collections to help with
Maria’s medical expenses at all the parish Masses this weekend; the
collection at Friday noon’s Mass at Jabal Al-Weibdeh brought in JD
124.645 (for a total of about JD 260 so far). I hope to raise a
further JD 350 to JD 500 at the Saturday evening & 2 Sunday Masses
this weekend.

Given these factors, especially the importance of getting Maria
released very soon (so that the hospital bill will not continue to
grow), I am writing to ask for your advice & assistance in meeting
this new crisis. I will be most grateful for any guidance or
assistance you may be able to provide.

Cordially,
Fr Kevin
========================
Kevin G. O’Connell, S.J.
The Jesuit Center, Amman, Jordan
– Office Phone: +962 (6) 461-4190
– Cell Phone: +962 (79) 556-5062
– Fax: +962 (6) 461-1315
E-Mail: kgoc@jesuits.jo or oconnksj@bc.edu
Parish URL: www.wfu.edu/~horton/amman

Please feel free to make a direct contact with Father Kevin and spread the word to your friends!!