Special Collection for the Catholic churches in the Middle East

Archdiocese will take up collection the weekend of Sept. 13-14

From Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

It is with great concern for the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the cradle of Christianity, that I write to you today. Our Church mourns the terrible suffering of Christians and other innocent victims of violence in Iraq, Syria and Gaza who are struggling to survive, protect their children and live with dignity in dire conditions.

Given the extraordinary nature of this crisis, I am asking you to consider taking up a special collection to provide humanitarian relief and pastoral support for our affected brothers and sisters in the Middle East.

These funds will be used by Catholic Relief Services and other Catholic agencies working in partnership with the local Church to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs facing the people in Iraq, Gaza, Syria and surrounding countries where refugees have fled. These organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region which allow them to respond quickly and efficiently to victims in some of the hardest to reach areas. Collection funds will also be used to support Church programs to aid persecuted Christians and to respond to rebuilding needs of Catholic dioceses in the impacted areas.

Our Christian brothers and sisters and other innocent victims of the violence in the Middle East urgently need the assistance of the Catholic community of the United States.

Archbishop Tobin has asked that this collection take place in all churches and chapels of the archdiocese on the weekend of September 13th-14th.

Both Archbishop Tobin and Archbishop Kurtz thank you for the support you can give to this collection and for continued prayers for the victims of this crisis.
 

Parishes: Please send a check from the collection to the archdiocesan Mission Office and reference the Special Collection for the Middle East.

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