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OFFICE
OF COMMUNICATIONS
DIOCESE OF SCRANTON
400 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA
18503
570-207-2219
August 31, 2005
For
Immediate Release
Diocese
of Scranton Will Take Special Collection
To Aid Hurricane Victims
The
Diocese of Scranton will take up a special
collection to aid the victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
Most
Rev. Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.,
Bishop of Scranton, has authorized a
collection to be taken in all parishes at
Masses of obligation this Saturday and
Sunday, Sept. 3 and 4. If parishioners are
not prepared to donate at these Masses, they
should have the opportunity to make a
contribution at the Masses of obligation on
Sept. 10 and 11.
The
Diocese will send proceeds from the
collection to Catholic Charities USA, which
is coordinating the Church’s relief
effort.
The
195 Catholic dioceses throughout the U.S.
are participating in the collection at the
request of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the
USCCB, said the organization has not been
able to reach most of the bishops in the
affected area because the power and
communications are out, but that a request
for a national collection had been received.
“The devastation and destruction by
Hurricane Katrina is being felt in many
dioceses of the United States, but most
especially in Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama,” the bishop said
in a message sent to all Catholic bishops.
“As
the storm proceeds north through Tennessee
and Kentucky even more people will be
affected,” he continued. “Millions
of people are in need of assistance and
Catholic Charities will be among the primary
responders. Catholic Charities USA,
working with the local diocesan Catholic
Charities, has a professional and well
developed system of reviewing the needs and
providing help where it can accomplish the
most good.”
“The media coverage has made it abundantly
clear that the needs will be great, and long
lasting,” Bishop Skylstad said.
“At this time there is the possibility of
more hurricanes coming in the next several
weeks.”
Catholic
Charities agencies from around the region
are poised to send technical assistance
teams to help the local Catholic Charities
in the impacted areas with their response
efforts. Once the all clear is given that it
is safe to return to those communities hit
by the devastating hurricane, the damage and
needs assessment will begin.
While
local agencies along the Gulf Coast
anticipate that they will be provide some
type of emergency assistance in their
communities, Catholic Charities’ niche in
disaster relief is to provide long-term
recovery work. In fact, Catholic Charities
agencies in Florida are still providing
services to help people recover from last
year’s devastating hurricanes. Based on
past disasters, possible long-term services
that Catholic Charities may provide include
temporary and permanent housing, direct
assistance beyond food and water to get
people back into their homes, job placement
counseling, and medical and prescription
drug assistance.
Recovery
work is underway in Dade County, Fla., where
Katrina caused extensive flooding when it
struck there last week. Catholic Charities
of the Archdiocese of Miami has already
distributed a large load of baby items,
food, and other supplies to victims. Other
aid that they will be providing includes
assistance with food, shelter, rent,
medicine, utilities, and mental health
counseling.
To
help communities recover from the damage
brought on by Hurricane Katrina, Catholic
Charities USA is collecting financial
donations that will fund agencies' emergency
and long-term disaster recovery efforts.
Catholic Charities USA is unable to accept
contributions of food, clothing, blankets
and other relief supplies.
Catholic
Charities USA, which has been commissioned
by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to represent
the Catholic community in times of domestic
disaster, responds with emergency and
long-term assistance as needed. Its Disaster
Response Office connects the Church’s
social service agencies and disaster
planning offices across the nation.
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