Contact: Mike Virgintino, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, 914-941-7636 ext 2219

MARYKNOLL, N.Y., June 4, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Maryknoll's Father Joseph Thaler continues to help the people of Nepal recover from the two recent earthquakes and many aftershocks. Having served in Nepal for 30 years, the Cold Spring, Kentucky, priest has come to know generations of families who have participated in his many different projects that provide income, health care and nutritional staples for the family table.

While all the projects overseen by Father Thaler were destroyed during the earthquakes, talk already is leading to revitalization for some of these programs. Father Thaler continues, with his staff, to help rebuild the lives of the people in many villages. Here are several stories Father Thaler has shared during the last couple of weeks.

Securing Tents
During one trip to Kathmandu's outlying villages, Father Thaler rode a Honda Trail bike. Alongside him on another bike was Father Silas, the vicar for Nepal. They traveled to visit St. Xavier's School in Godavari and the Cluny Sisters, and to meet and talk with villagers.

"These locations sustained serious earthquake damage," said Father Thaler. "The residents do not have much clarity about the future of the buildings. With the earth still so unstable, it is not really reliable to make an assessment of any building except for the present moment."

One of the tasks that day was to set up a tent for Fr. Silas' parents. They had been sleeping outside. Now, so many people are living in tents, either fearful of another earthquake or because they no longer have homes.

"I was able to secure a rather large tent…from Care and Development Organization [that is providing] relief work and medical care," said Father Thaler. "In the meantime, we are working on what some are calling 'transitional housing.'"

Still Trucking Supplies
A truck filled with supplies was sent to the village of Foksintar in the Kavre District. This village also was destroyed in the earthquake.

Two brothers helped move the supplies. One brother is known to Maryknoll. He has helped Father Thaler upgrade a school over the last year in the village of Mate in the Kavre District. They first met during the priest's initial trip to Nepal during 1977. The other brother is a Buddhist monk who moved from the monastery to help the village as soon at the earthquake struck.

"Having the local village folks involved in all the planning and then data collection, identifying who really needs what, is most important before our arrival in the village," said Father Thaler. "Once we arrive in the village, the distribution is clear and transparent. We are here working together to for the good of all. We are Buddhists, Moslems, Hindus and Christians."

Mushrooms Will Grow Again
The village of Melamchi Gyang in the Sindhupalchowk District received significant damage from the quake. Many houses were destroyed along with the school.

The programs that Maryknoll managed here, including one that fostered the growth of mushrooms for the village, had been providing income and nutrition for the participating households.

"We already are making plans for a return to the village," added Father Thaler. "In the meantime, together we will be cultivating the worms and collecting the mushroom spores."

To assist Father Thaler and his work in Nepal, donations can be sent to the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545. Please mark checks "Nepal Relief."

Donations also can be received by Maryknoll via telephone (toll free at 888-627-9566) or through the Maryknoll web site (www.maryknollsociety.org).