CNS photo

Collection for Haiti is ‘largest ever’ in Anchorage Archdiocese

Catholics across the Anchorage Archdiocese raised more than $171,000 in response to the devastating earthquake that hit the island of Haiti in January, reports Catholicanchor.org.

Immediately following the quake, U.S. bishops urged dioceses across the nation to hold special collections to help the earthquake victims.

The grand total for the Anchorage Archdiocese will be $171,831, according to Jim Caldarola, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the archdiocese.

“This will be the largest special collection ever conducted in the Anchorage Archdiocese,” he said.

The donations came from parishes and schools as well as several large, individual gifts. In early March, the archdiocese sent the funds to Catholic Relief Services, the charitable outreach arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In addition to these funds, Caldarola said he has no way of knowing how many Alaskans chose to donate directly to CRS.

Nationally, U.S. diocesan aid to Haiti totals $30 million and continues to grow.

Bishop Guy A. Sansaricq is Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn and the only Haitian-American bishop in the United States. In a USCCB press release, he expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the U.S. church.

“We’ve all been horrified by the images of such destruction, and yet, as a Haitian-American, I am deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support to our brothers and sisters in need,” he remarked.

A Haiti Advisory Group was created by the U.S. bishops to assess and respond to the earthquake’s impact upon Haitians and the local church. Several members of the bishops’ advisory group are visiting Haiti in March to assess the damage and to identify how to best assist relief efforts and distribute the special collection funds.

“The purpose in setting up a special advisory group is to ensure that we can remain focused on the long term development needs of the church in Haiti. The bishops will call upon other experts to help them in this task,” said Archbishop of San Antonio José H. Gomez, who chairs the advisory group.

He noted that only a few weeks after the earthquake struck, 110 U.S. dioceses have contributed to the special Haiti Relief Collection fund.

In a release from the USCCB, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston commented on the “unprecedented” worldwide relief effort:

“The Catholic response in particular is a profound example of stewardship and the universal bonds that unite the Church. In traveling to Haiti, we will express the ongoing concern of all those Catholics who have reached out to Haiti in prayer and material support.”

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TAGS: USA Anchorage Archdiocese earthquake collection for Haiti earthquake victims Catholic response

[03/06/2010]

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