Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam
The Most Reverend William S. Skylstad
President of USCCB
Your Excellence,
We are deeply moved at hearing that the Katrina storm on August 29, 2005 killed so many lives and destroyed a part of your country.
The Church in Vietnam and its Catholic Bishops’ Conference would like to express our condolences to the victims and their families in your country.
We also pray for the dead and those who are suffering from the tragedy. We wish to come and share your sufferings, but the present situation does not allow us to do so.
We would like to donate twenty – five thousand USDs (25,000.00) to you as the first sign of our communion and solidarity.
We have got Monsignor Francis Savier Pham Van Phuong to transfer this sum of money to you.
Last 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, we prayed especially for the Church in the USA and your Conference. We hope that the fraternity between the two Churches will last forever.
May God strengthen you and your nation in these sufferings by granting all of you patience and hope.
In Christ,
Bishop Paul Nguyen Van Hoa
President of the Catholic Bishops
Conference of Vietnam (CBCV)
Bishop Paul Nguyen Thanh Hoan
President of Commission for Charity and Social Actions of CBCV
Bonn
September 2, 2005
Bishop William S. Skylstad
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Your Excellency,
We were shocked by the news on the tremendous devastation in the South of the United States caused by Hurricane Katrina. Uncounted people have lost their lives, millions have lost everything they owned. The most severely affected dioceses are in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The actual extent of destruction and human sufferings is not yet known.
In the face of the chaotic circumstances, you have taken immediate emergency measures wit the help of Catholic Charities USA. The many examples of generous and dedicated assistance provided by U.S. Catholic agencies and individuals give evidence of the enormous vitality specific to the Local Church in the United States. May all these efforts help to give the victims new hope for the future.
In these hard times, I assure you of our heartfelt solidarity. The Catholics in Germany pray for the victims and for the rescue workers and ask God for his help and strength.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Karl Cardinal Lehmann
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Ottawa, Ontario
1 September 2005
Most Rev. William Skylstad
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Dear Bishop Skylstad:
It is with heavy heart that your brother Bishops in Canada see the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the states along the Gulf Coast.
Much of the area affected was part of the original territory of the Diocese of Quebec from 1674; many of our Acadian people found refuge in that area in the time of their expulsion from their homeland in the mid-18th century; and many of the same French explorers and missionaries who traversed Canada also visited or worked in that area of the United States of America.
For many Canadians, especially Catholics and including your brother Bishops here in Canada, that part of your vast land evokes profound emotions.
Please convey our thoughts and especially our prayers to our brother Bishops, not only but particularly in the ecclesiastical provinces of New Orleans and Mobile. We remember them and their people, especially those who are victims of the hurricane and those involved in relief efforts.
Furthermore, in response to a number of requests from Canadians, our Conference will be informing the dioceses in Canada that donations to assist the stricken areas of the United States may be sent through the Red Cross or directly to Catholic Charities USA.
Sincerely and fraternally in Our Lord,
Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien
Archbishop of St. John’s
President, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Roma
Dear Friends,
We are deeply saddened by the news of the disaster occurred in your country in these days because of Hurricane Kathrine [sic].
During this difficult time, we express our solidarity with you and we join your community in mourning the deaths of so many people. Please accept our sincerest wishes.
United in prayer,
Don Vittorio Nozza
Caritas Italiana