Shepherd's Bush couple raising money for church where Mary appeared

A HUSBAND and wife from Shepherd's Bush are seeking donations to finish building a church where villagers claim Mary appeared to them.

John and Felisa Ryan, of Tunis Road, have been raising money for the project in the Philippines since learning of the settlement at the site of a shrine to Mary where people claim to be healed from life threatening diseases.

The couple came back from the Our Lady of Fatima settlement in Siaton, Niagros Oriental on the south coast of the country after sending money over to help the community, providing equipment and food.

Now they are helping villagers to raise £5,000 so the community can finish building their place of worship.

John Ryan, 55, of Tunis Road, said: "At the moment it is a shell, but this doesn’t deter the villagers from holding the services in the open on the building site, and lighting candles.

"At the moment it’s a makeshift place of worship, nowhere near done. They have a priest coming in from a neighbouring parish, when really all they want is to have something that is theirs. A permanent home for helpers and their priest, somewhere people can go regularly.

"It’s an inspiring thing. It’s a developing country and people cannot really afford to give funds, but locals are donating 5p when they only earn $5 a month.

Mr and Mrs Ryan have already raised £100 using donation boxes dotted around the borough, but the church needs £5,000 to finish the work.

The tireless fundraiser said: "We’ve tried to help by placing boxes in our area when we came home. They’re in hospitals, housing association receptions and churches for people to donate."

"It’s an on-going project and they find getting funding very hard as they’re in a developing country. It’s good to be able to do what we can."

When finished, the church will hold a committee room as well as a place to hold services, seminars and talks.

The shell of the church stands at the bottom of a mountain where a shrine to Mary was built after a wealthy supermarket owner from the Philippines donated the money needed.

Mr Ryan said: "It was a lovely thing to do, but he didn’t donate enough for the church to be completed. Now it’s even more important for the villagers to get it finished as people leave prayers and donations at the shrine, with some claiming to have been healed after praying at it. It’s almost like a pilgrimage."

Mrs Ryan is from a neighbouring town and has family living in the Philippines so the project has always been close to their hearts.

Mr Ryan said: "We’ve seen the good work the church is doing their, and my wife still has family living in the country. We’ve donated before and helped out people in the area."

The couple have already donated equipment for the area, including farming tools. They recently bought three and a half hectares of land which they rent free of charge to villagers so they can grow their own crops.

"Whatever the families grow they can feed themselves and sell the excess. They can also buy medicines as they have to pay for it out there."

"We also bought a fishing boat for a family. They share what they catch with their neighbours."

Now the Ryans are hoping that Shepherd’s Bush joins them in their donation drive and rise to the challenge, helping them reach their target to provide the settlement with a place to pray and meet.

Mr Ryan said: "People have already been so generous, we’ve had cheques and money through already. Now we hope we can raise enough so the people can build and finish their church."

To find out how to donate directly to the project email ourladyoffatima_siaton@yahoo.com 

Read here http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2011/10/31/shepherd-s-bush-couple-raising-money-for-church-where-mary-appeared-82029-29694806/#ixzz1cxJUojqJ

Posted in: church,donation,hammersmith and fulham chroncile,mary,shepherd's bush