Last week I spoke that this Sunday, Oct 20 is World Mission Sunday, a day where the Pope asks us to take a special collection to support to support the Church throughout the world by supporting the Pontifical Mission

Societies. The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) are a worldwide network at the service of the

Pope that supports the missions and the Young Churches with prayer and charity.

You also may know that there has been major and widespread damage in the Southeastern United States from the recent hurricanes, first Hurricane Helene and now Hurricane Milton.

Thus in keeping of the spirit of World Mission Sunday, we will still take up a special collection for the work of charity.  However, this collection will be specifically for Hurricane relief in our country.  We will do this through the charitable arm of the local Catholic Church, Catholic Charities USA.

Checks can be made out to parish for “Hurricane Relief” and then we as the parish  will write one large check to Catholic Charities.

Where will my donation go? Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) distributes 100% of funds received directly to Catholic Charities agencies in disaster-stricken communities to care for our affected neighbors.

Why give to Catholic Charities USA? CCUSA is the official domestic relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States. In addition to providing financial support directly to communities affected by natural disasters, CCUSA has a long history of assisting in the rapid mobilization of Catholic Charities agency staff across the U.S. In doing so, they not only meet the immediate needs, they also provide critical, long-term support to communities as they rebuild.

As of Oct. 8 Thanks to the generous support of donors to the Catholic Charities USA Hurricane Helene disaster relief fund, CCUSA has distributed $1.9 million thus far to Catholic Charities agencies in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. All 100% of the funds raised for Hurricane Helene relief are being distributed to local agencies assisting those displaced or suffering because of the storm.

If you would like to learn more details about what specifically Catholic Charities is doing in the hurricane relief effort, you can visit their website: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/what-we-do/disaster-relief/hurricane-helene-response/

And lastly, though not least importantly, please pray for all of those affected by the hurricane.  As this is the month of the rosary, perhaps consider offering a rosary for this particular intention.

Peace,

-Fr. Kevin