From former Sun religion writer John Rivera, now at Catholic Relief Services, comes this photograph of Our Lady of Perpetual Help chapel in Marikina, Philippines. Note the pew lodged in the rafters during tropical storm Ketsana over the weekend.

Laura Sheahen, the Baltimore-based organization's regional information director for Asia and the Pacific rim, writes:

Pew, that was close

Flood survivors receive aid at a chapel in Marikina, Philippines. When tropical storm Ketsana hit the island, massive flooding drove thousands from their homes. Father Javier Mexicano, shown here standing, was caught in his small parish house during the storm. He and another priest broke through the roof, waited there for the waters to settle, and eventually swam to safety.

A pew is lodged in the rafters of the chapel, where it floated during the flood.

Read Sheahen's blog post on the storm and its aftermath at the CRS Voices blog.

Photo by Laura Sheahen/Catholic Relief Services