President of U.S. Bishops Conference Announces Emergency Collection for 2018 Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON—CardinalDaniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United StatesConference of Catholic Bishops, has requested that dioceses across the countrytake up an emergency collection on behalf of those devastated by HurricaneFlorence, as well as any forthcoming natural di
WASHINGTON—CardinalDaniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United StatesConference of Catholic Bishops, has requested that dioceses across the countrytake up an emergency collection on behalf of those devastated by HurricaneFlorence, as well as any forthcoming natural disasters this year.
In a letter sent to bishops last week,Cardinal DiNardo wrote, in part:
"The traditional storm season has only justbegun and already we have witnessed the devastating impact of HurricaneFlorence in the Carolinas. Five days after land-fall, torrential rain was stillfalling, and catastrophic flooding is predicted. Already, thousands of homes,businesses, and churches have been severely damaged or destroyed."
"We offer our prayers to families who havelost loved ones or are among those injured. As is often the case, the poor arethe hardest hit by these conditions, but many will have immense unmet needs.Staff of our Office for National Collections has been in touch with severalbishops to learn about their situations and to offer our prayers and our desireto be of assistance in this time of need.
"Given the patterns of recent years, it isreasonable to expect much more unpredictable weather and an increasing numberof natural disasters. Therefore, I suggest we take up a special collection forthe humanitarian, long-term recovery, and Church needs arising from these storms.In anticipation of more disasters awaiting us this year, I ask that we make aspecial appeal for the ongoing disasters of 2018 and that we each take up thecollection as soon as possible so that those most in need can receiveassistance quickly."
Funds will be used in response to HurricaneFlorence and any other natural disasters that occur this year. Initially, fundswill be used to support the efforts of Catholic Charities USA as they reach outto provide humanitarian aid in the form of water, food, shelter, and medicalcare, as well as to their long-term efforts to restore communities afterwidespread destruction. Also, funds will go to support the United StatesConference of Catholic Bishops' efforts to assist with pastoral andreconstruction aid to the Church. Humanitarian funds for any future disastersimpacting communities outside the US may be shared with Catholic ReliefServices for their response efforts.
More information about the Office of NationalCollections and its support of emergency relief efforts can be found at https://www.usccb.org/about/national-collections/index.cfm.
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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, National Collections, CardinalDaniel DiNardo, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, charity, Hurricane Florence,national collection humanitarian aid, emergency relief
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