Carried away by faith balloons?

This is a little strange.

It seems that a Brazilian priest, Fr. Adelir Antonio de Carli, wanted to "raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua." (If they'll stop for 'spiritual rest', clearly Brazilian truckers are a different breed to those who terrorize the highways where I live!)

He decided that a good way to do so would be to break the record of 19 hours for the most time spent flying beneath a multitude of helium-filled balloons. Sounds a bit less enjoyable than a Church social, but to each his own.

Unfortunately, the winds weren't co-operative. Fr. de Carli was last heard of about 30 miles off the coast, still drifting out to sea. He hasn't been seen or heard of since, and pieces of balloons have been found by searching boats.

Fr. de Carli apparently had a satellite phone, a GPS system and an inflatable chair with him, so let's hope he may yet be found alive. However, I have to ask whether a few cake sales and second collections might not have been a better option!

Peter