Guayaquil, July 2005

Photos from our visit to Fr. Tom in Blessed Mother Teresa Parish, Guayaquil

Downtown Guayaquil The arts centre - part of the recent beautification of Guayaquil The recently renovated neighbourhood of Cerro Santa Ana Police trucks are used to pick up the dead in the absence of ambulances A teacher at the school Fr. Con built near Canal Ocho The timetable of the school... ... and two of the pupils Housing in the more 'developed' area near Canal Ocho Fr. Martin's chapel Fr. Tom points out the foundations of Fr. Martin's new house The canal Distant view of Canal Ocho Sign advertising the neighbourhood with picture of local strongman The main street, Canal Ocho, Guayaquil View from the church, showing shops and buses to town Typical housing - cane huts on stilts No made-up roads - this hill gets treacherous in the rains Fr. Tom's living room... ... and his back porch, full of fittings waiting to be installed in the church Working on the interior of the church Smoothing out the floor Hands raised in prayer surround the window above the sanctuary The church in its current state - halfway through being painted Fr. Tom outside the church Fr. Tom outside his church Fr. Tom and his chief builder Jose Two young members of the parish Fr. Tom is besieged by young fans Children from the parish The church seen from the hill behind The music group at Sunday mass Fr. Tom greets the parishioners at Mass Fr. Tom blesses at Mass The current chapel and Fr. Tom's congregation At the consecration After Mass Fiona meets some of the congregation after Mass Two of the music group Driving out of Canal Ocho - good shock absorbers required!