WASHINGTON (August 30, 2005)—Bishop William S. Skylstad, President of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has announced that a
National Collection for Hurricane Relief will be taken up in the 195
Catholic dioceses throughout the United States.
Bishop Skylstad said the USCCB 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
today (August 30) 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. I
therefore ask you to please consider taking up a collection in your
diocese for the relief of the victims of the hurricanes of this season.”
Bishop Skylstad said diocesan collections or gifts should be sent as soon
as possible to:
2005 Hurricane Relief Fund
Catholic Charities USA
PO Box 25168
Alexandria, VA 22313-9788
“In your name I offer our fraternal support to our brother bishops at this
tragic time,” Bishop Skylstad wrote. “I urge you to invite your priests
and people to remember in prayer our neighbors who have lost and suffered
so much.”
NOTE: Further information on the hurricanes, including donation
information, is available at Catholic Charities Web site:
www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/katrina.cfm.