Bishop John B. McCormack of Manchester, N.H., asked Catholics in his diocese to help victims of the recent wildfires in California during Mass collections the weekend of Nov. 3-4.
The contributions will be sent to Catholic Charities San Diego, which at the height of the fires had mobilized immediately to assess needs and establish a service station at Qualcomm Stadium. The football stadium doubled as a shelter for as many as 15,000 evacuees during the wildfires.
A Manchester diocesan spokesman said it would take a week to 10 days for parishes to tally the collection.
"Despite the tragedy and devastation caused by the wildfires in California, the deep and abiding goodness of the human family always shines through in such difficult moments," said Bishop McCormack in his letter to diocesan pastors.
"The church is often at the heart of such expressions of solidarity and compassion," he added, requesting that Catholics not only donate money to help victims but also asking them to pray for those affected by the tragedy.
During the wildfires, Catholic Charities provided thousands of prepared meals and helped displaced evacuees connect with their families and seek information about their homes or residential areas. With the situation now in the recovery phase, the relief agency has been offering relocation and resettlement assistance to those who lost their homes and possessions.
Ken Sawa, executive director of Catholic Charities San Bernardino, noted that many people tend to think the disaster is over.
"But for Catholic Charities, our work is just beginning. A 'second wave' of assistance will be required to help families, whose homes were destroyed or damaged or who may have lost their jobs, transition from short-term crises to long-term stability," he said in a statement.
Catholic Charities' work in disaster response is helping fire victims regain stability -- addressing the needs of the community's most vulnerable populations and filling in the gaps in service.
"We know from the fires four years ago, as soon as families have had the opportunity and time to adequately determine their needs, they begin to contact agencies for help," said Sawa.
The local Catholic Charities agencies were helping evacuees return to their homes or go to temporary housing and providing them with services and support, such as food, store vouchers, medicine, counseling, assistance with filing forms and other services.
"Our goal is to do whatever is necessary and possible so families can reclaim their lives," said Sawa. "We work closely with families to help them access the services and resources they need." ---CNS
Donations for wildfire recovery efforts may be sent by check to: Catholic Charities USA, Southern California Wildfires 2007, P.O. Box 7068, Merrifield, VA 22116-7068. More information is available from Catholic Charities USA by phone at: (800) 919-9338, or online at: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. |