Our nation U.S. Catholics urged to aid, pray for quake victims in Turkey, Syria

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reacting to “heartbreaking scenes” of death and destruction in Turkey and Syria, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ international policy committee urged U.S. Catholics and all people of goodwill to pray for the victims of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the two countries Feb. 6 and to give generously to those in need.

According to figures released Feb. 14, the death toll had risen more than 41,000 and about 75,000 others were injured.

“I join with our Holy Father Pope Francis in praying for the souls of the departed as we mourn the loss of so many lives,” Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Ill., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, said in a Feb. 8 statement.

“We pray for those injured and the many others suffering, and we also pray for the safety and protection of emergency personnel working to save lives and tending to those in need in the wake of this disaster,” he said. Rescue workers were still “trying to free people from rubble and those alive are facing freezing conditions as they try to salvage their belongings and seek shelter,” Bishop Malloy said. “In a region that has experienced much conflict and hardship, these heartbreaking scenes call out to us to provide aid and assistance to our brothers and sisters in need.”

The bishop urged U.S. Catholics “to give generously” to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association to support their efforts to provide emergency humanitarian relief.

“I also call upon the U.S. government to provide muchneeded assistance and to work in conjunction with Catholic aid organizations to deliver effective assistance to those most in need,” he said.

CNEWA, an agency of the Holy See, is looking to aid over 2,000 families in Syria’s Aleppo and Hama regions –already long ravaged by conflict – by providing bedding, food, medicines, infant formula, diapers and clothing. Donations can be made online at www.cnewa.org/work/ emergency-syria; toll-free by phone at 800-442-6392; or by mail to CNEWA headquarters, 1011 First Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022.

CRS, the U.S. Catholic Church’s overseas relief and development agency, also is accepting donations through its website, www.crs.org. CRS is partnering with Caritas Turkey, Caritas Syria and Caritas Anatolia -- members of Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation of Catholic relief organizations – to shelter displaced victims while ensuring access to food, clean water and hygiene supplies. At least one U.S. archdiocese has announced its parishes will take up a special collection for quake victims – the Boston Archdiocese.

Rescuers carry an earthquake victim on the rubble in Jandaris, Syria, Feb. 7. A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked areas of Turkey and Syria early Feb. 6, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing thousands.

OSV NEWS | KHALIL ASHAWI, REUTERS

“Recognizing the growing need for assistance,” a Feb. 9 archdiocesan statement said, Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley has asked that the collection be taken at Masses during the weekend of Feb. 18-19. The “funds raised will help to provide safe shelter, and access to food, clean water and hygiene supplies” through CNEWA and CRS, it said. — OSV News

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Miami archbishop offers to house exiled Nicaraguan priests

MIAMI — Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski spoke to the Florida Catholic Feb. 11 about the expected arrival in Miami of some of the political prisoners released by the Nicaraguan government and flown to the U.S. Feb. 9. “Most of the people expelled were politicians or candidates for public office that (Daniel) Ortega locked up before the elections,” the archbishop said, but among them were “four or five priests, a couple of seminarians, a deacon and an organist.” Although they would be taken in at first by Nicaraguan families, Archbishop Wenski said he offered the priests and seminarians longer term housing at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. “I’m offering them the hospitality of the seminary as well as the opportunity to get acclimated, acculturated and see what the next steps would be after that,” he said. At the seminary they could take “intensive English classes” while finalizing their immigration paperwork. The Nicaraguans were expected to arrive from Washington Feb. 12 and take part in the 1 p.m. Mass.

National Black Catholic Congress to be held in D.C. area

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholics are being invited to register to attend this summer’s

National Black Catholic Congress, which over the years has made history of its own. The National Black Catholic Congress XIII will be held July 20-23 at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia. Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory – the archbishop of Washington who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis in 2020, becoming the first African American cardinal in history – will give the opening keynote speech and celebrate the opening Mass. Early registration for the National Black Catholic Congress XIII ends Feb. 28 and regular registration ends July 15,. For more information, including a schedule of events, and to register, go online to nbccgathering2023.org.

Registration opens for 2024 National Eucharistic Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Registration for the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21, 2024, will open Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. The Year of the National Eucharistic Congress and Missionary Sending 2024-25 is the third and final year of the U.S. bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival. The congress is expected to draw more than 80,000 people, with prayer and liturgies, catechesis for individuals and families, and a festival-like atmosphere. Those who want to attend can sign up at the National Eucharistic Revival’s website, www.eucharisticcongress. org. The National Eucharistic Revival is a threeyear campaign by the U.S. bishops to increase the Catholic understanding of and devotion to Jesus’ real presence in Eucharist. It was prompted after national studies reported that only 30-40% of Catholics profess that belief, and that only 15% of Catholics go to Mass every Sunday. — OSV News

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