March 9, 2010 // Uncategorized

Gratitude for Haitian relief collection

Todays Catholic

My deep and heartfelt thanks to all the faithful of our diocese who contributed so generously to our special collection in January to assist the people of Haiti after the devastating earthquake there! As of March 2, we have collected $561,075 from our parishes. That is a tremendous contribution for the Church’s relief efforts in Haiti. I appreciate your generous sacrifices and your expression of genuine Christian love and solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in Haiti.

I was reading about the incredible work of our Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Haiti since the earthquake. CRS has provided food to nearly a million people there. Relief operations are ongoing. CRS has distributed several thousands of emergency shelter kits to families and is very busy in providing shelters as the rainy season there will soon begin. CRS is also involved in several health projects as well as water and sanitation projects.

Thank you again for your amazing response to help the Haitian people recover from this terrible disaster. Let us continue to pray for them.

Last week, we saw the news of another earthquake, this time in Chile. Our Catholic Relief Services is also active helping those in Chile affected by the powerful earthquake that struck that country. CRS is supporting the relief efforts of the local Catholic Church through Caritas Chile, the social service arm of the Catholic Church in Chile. Let us also remember in prayer the people of Chile at this difficult time.

Our annual collection for Catholic Relief Services will be taken up on the weekend of March 13-14. I know that you will again be generous in supporting this official international relief and development agency of the Catholic community in the United States. This collection is an opportunity to continue to express Christian compassion and generosity. Besides the above-mentioned work in Haiti and Chile due to the recent disasters, CRS is active assisting the poor overseas in 98 different countries.

During this Lenten season of sacrifice, we are called to remember “the least of our brothers and sisters,” as Jesus teaches in the parable of the last judgment (Matthew 25). Thank you again for your generosity in coming to the aid of our suffering brothers and sisters in Haiti! May God bless you!