Burma

This is a special menu item reflecting the devastating effect of Cyclone Nargis which on 2-3 May 2008 crossed Burma/Myanmar causing much damage, not least of all to the community we in St Austin's support in the Irrawaddy Delta area, between the city of Yangon (Rangoon) and Siriam just South of the Pegu river.

You can zoom in/out on the Yangon/Siriam area mentioned in "Sr Salette's email" (below) by using this Google Satellite Map link and by following the instuctions there. Note that Yangon is right in the middle of the red square marking the most seriously affected area!
[NB: all 'tiles' of the satellite map were obtained in the period 2004-07, i.e. before the cyclone].

Sr Salette Mary, who many will remember speaking to us when she visited the Parish last year, was in India at the time and has been able to get email and pictures to us which you can access below. Her email is in three parts, the first concerns the St Mary's Orphanage and Community we have supported in the past (luckily no-one was killed, but she reports much damage). The second concerns the 10 other Servite communities which the nuns and priests support, the last part contains financial details - that have been omitted here.

If you would like to help please contact Fr David or one of the priests and/or drop off a cheque in the Prebytary made payable to:
"St Austins Grassendale" (please write "Fr. David's Burma Appeal" on the back of the cheque)
or by post to:

And, as always please keep those affected (and perhaps especially the Generals and Myanmar Government?) in your thoughts and prayers.

On behalf of our priests, our Parish community, and our friends in Burma, my thanks for your time and continued generosity.