Diocese Takes Up Special Collection for Haiti Relief

Most Rev. Robert J. Cunningham, Bishop of Syracuse, has announced a special collection for Haiti Relief. All parishes have been asked to take up a second collection this weekend, January 16-17 and/or next weekend January 23-24, 2010. Individual donations can be made to Haiti Relief- Diocese of Syracuse and mailed to Diocese of Syracuse, 240 East Onondaga Street, Syracuse New York 13202, marked Haiti Relief. These funds will be forwarded to Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church.
Catholic Relief Services announced today that they are already mounting a major emergency response to this severe disaster and have committed an initial $5million to fund relief efforts which will most likely go on for sometime.

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Sorrow for Haiti

UPDATE: Read the blog Hope in Haiti by Father Marc Boisvert, who runs an orphanage in Southern Haiti, here.

The world has been shaken by the scenes of devastation coming out of Haiti after it was rocked by a 7.0 earthquake (followed by many strong aftershocks). Word has come from the scene that Archbishop Serge Miot of Port-au-Prince was killed in the quake. It is feared that thousands have died after the city of millions was essentially leveled.
As Christians and Catholics, we feel the need to respond (as driven by the Beatitudes of Jesus). Here are some ways you can assist the victims:

• For those interesting in helping immediately, simply text “HAITI” to “90999” and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
• You can donate $5 via your cellphone to musician Wyclef Jean’s grassroots organization: Text Yele to 501 501.
• Here’s a list compiled by CNN of relief agencies: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/ Included in that list is Catholic Relief Services. Click on the link and you’ll be brought to a donation form. If you prefer to donate to Catholic Relief Services by phone, please call 1-800-736-3467 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

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