Kilrush / Askamore Parish
Fr Frank Murphy's Recife Children's Project.

Edifício Irlanda,

R.Florentino O.Santos 310/202,

Afogados,Recife, PE.,Brazil 50830/470

14th May 2009

Dear Creche sponsors,

The Creche still keeps to the noiseless tenor of its way,which conduces naturally to dull bulletins and lean and hungry newsletters.

To begin with money maters : the monthly expenses for April came to a total of 27.528,44 reais, including 1.468,79 for repairs to the wear and tear caused by the presence of 250 kids each day and an electricity bill of 1.239,07 reis.This necessitated delving into the emergency fund to the tune of 21.599,69 reais. The exchange rates are currently 2.15 reais to the dollar, 2.88 to the euro and 3.25 to sterling.

The children in both cradle rooms, from three months to a year old, had the usual infant problems endemic to Recife shanty towns or favelas, with skin infections including scabies, asthma and intestinal disturbances.There is a common cold virus making its rounds these early winter days, among its victims Delly, whose picture you have been sent when her mother, a Creche ex-student had been committed to a mental home after several bouts of violence in one of which she threatened to kill both herself and Delly.A little 8 month old,Alban arrived one day at the Creche with his back tattoed with obscene drawings pointing to his anal end.The Creche manager wondered if the police should have been informed…maybe it was just a joke in bad taste…. a refined sense of humour being noticeably absnent hereabouts!

Alice, 5, collided with another child as they chased around one of the playgrounds. The local hospitals and clinics refused to attend the childs suspected broken arm so Rogerio, the manager of the Creche, had her taken to a private clinic where she was put in plaster and assured that there was no fracture but a muscular distortion. The Creche picked up the tab.

Doctor Wanda , wife of ex-Creche president Dr Joaquim Alcanatara is still in hospital after brain injury sustained in an effort to keep her husband from falling as he approached the lift in his apartment block. She is still very weak, unable to talk and being tube fed. She seems to recognize people when they visit her. Do keep her in your prayers…..she has been very ill for over two months now.

Have a look at the Creche web site where you can see photos of the children and their activities along with occasional news flashes.

www.frankmurphy.com.br

You can contact me by email : murphy@hotlink.com.br

Would you please acknowledge receipt of this bulletin…only two or three people seem to be getting the bulletins which gives me the impresssion I am dropping notes in bottles in the wild Atlantic or launching electronic messages into the empty regions of outer space.

Frank Murphy (Fr)