How you can help the people of Haiti
The Catholic community in the United States is responding immediately to the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Jan. 12 near the capital of Port-au-Prince. Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, is mounting a major emergency response to this disaster and has made an initial commitment of $5 million for immediate use in the relief effort.
Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville has asked all 47 parishes in East Tennessee to take up a special collection on Jan. 16 and 17 for Haiti and the humanitarian efforts of Catholic Relief Services in that country. He has especially asked for continued prayers for all the victims and suffering people of Haiti as well as for aid workers.
Read the U.S. bishops’ letter encouraging dioceses throughout the United States to take up second collections.
The Diocese of Knoxville has had a long history of direct aid to churches in Haiti through numerous “parish twinning” programs. This assistance has included visits from local medical professionals and those skilled in construction and logistics. Bishop Stika has asked those parishes with a twin parish in Haiti to find ways to respond effectively to the crisis.
How you can help:
Pray: God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us.
In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster
to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us.
Be with all creation; strengthen us in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti. All creation returns to you in mourning and your grace guides our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice.
With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice.
Amen.
Make a contribution via the second collection taken up at your parish the weekend of Jan. 16 and 17
Contribute to Catholic Relief services by calling 1-877-HELP-CRS, visiting www.crs.org, or mailing a check to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090 (write “Haiti Earthquake” in the memo line of your check).
Watch a video interview with Archbishop Timothy Dolan about Haiti relief:
