Trapped Chilean miners speak to loved ones directly for the first time, via a telephone line sent down the shaft. But rescue efforts to free the miners may take up to 4 months.<br /><br />More than 150 people took part in a mass on Sunday for the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile. <br /><br />Locals residents from the town of Copiapo gathered together as a priest conducted the service. <br /><br />While miners have continued sending video messages to their families, some were also to speak directly with family members, via a telephone line, sent down the shaft to the trapped men.<br /><br />One of the miners used the opportunity to assure his mother. <br /><br />[Alicia Campos, Mother of Chilean Miner Daniel Herrera]: (Spanish) <br />"He didn't ask me anything in particular, he said to relax and that everything was fine, but I told him that they should take care of themselves."<br /><br />Another was able to talk with his wife. <br /><br />[Jessoca Sa;gado, Wife of Miner Alex Vega]: (Spanish) J <br />"He asked me about the children and told me to send them his love, to his children." <br /><br />The long drilling process to extract the miners is due to begin on Monday. <br /><br />Chile is looking at ways to speed up the rescue, which is expected to take between three and four months.
