Bishop Wester joins Utah community in prayers for trapped miners

Published: 2007-08-10

HUNTINGTON, Utah (CNS) -- Although he said "fear, anxiety and anger are common human emotions" during the long wait for word on the fate of six miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine outside Huntington, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City urged the miners' families, colleagues and rescuers Aug. 9 to place themselves "in God's presence." "God will answer our prayers either with the safe return of the six miners to us, or the grace to see us through our loss," he said during a Mass in the tiny mission church of San Rafael in Huntington. The early morning news Aug. 10 that no sounds from the miners could be heard was not what the mining community wanted to hear. A hole two and a half inches wide was drilled more than 1,800 feet into the cavern where the six have been trapped since a massive mine collapse Aug. 6. A microphone lowered into the cavern returned only silence to the rescue workers above, who were hoping for some evidence that the miners are still alive. A second, wider hole was being drilled parallel to the first to allow camera equipment, food and water to be lowered into the cavern.

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