The "Mass of Hope" was celebrated on Saturday, November 19 with a
massive presence of faithful, at the big park of the Malvinas, point of
encounter of the three districts that make up the Argentinean diocese of
Quilmes.
For 21 years we have been celebrating the "Mass of Hope" here,
which this year had a special motivation: the closing of the Jubilee of
Mercy and the 40 years of the creation of the diocese of Quilmes.
In his homily, sent to Fides, His Exc. Mgr. Carlos José Tissera, Bishop
of Quilmes, used strong words to describe unemployment and job
insecurity, hunger and even drug trafficking.
"It is not something that we are told, but we see: in our public soup
kitchens the number of children and teenagers have increased. Currently
in some areas young people also ask for only a plate of food. People
have no more money to buy something to eat", said the Archbishop. Mgr.
Tissera stressed: "statistics show that even milk consumption has
decreased".
"We are seriously concerned by the fact that in some
neighborhoods the number of children with tuberculosis is increasing.
There are also cases of malnutrition".
Because of a large number of citizens, the Bishop also denounced the
situation of undeclared and poorly paid work. "We are here today because
we want to pray for a job, work is necessary. But not for a low-paid
job. We cannot reach the end of the month. We also know that the crisis
regards everyone, even for small and medium-sized companies, but these
are the backbone of our southern region".
In conclusion Mgr. Tissera also complained about the increase in the
number of people, mostly poor, who from the countryside settle in urban
centers, and build themselves temporary accommodation: "to have a home
is a serious problem, as well as problems related to health, education,
insecurity and drugs".