How you can help: Catholic agencies taking donations for relief efforts

Bishop Jaime Soto issued the following statement Sept. 21 in regard to the recent earthquakes in Mexico and also Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey.

"We ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother of Mercy, for all those who are struggling to recover the from startling series of natural calamities. The earthquake in central Mexico is the most recent. The powerful tremor has brought much devastation to Mexico City and the surrounding area. Let us to continue to pray for our many brothers and sisters whose lives have been shattered by powerful natural forces. May our abiding solidarity in prayer and charity comfort them in uncertain ways."

An emergency collection on behalf of those devastated in parts of the Caribbean and southeastern United States by Hurricane Irma will be taken up during liturgies in the Diocese of Sacramento on Sept. 23-24: https://www.scd.org/event/emergency-collection-those-impacted-hurricane-irma

Joan Rosenhauer, executive vice president of Catholic Relief Services' U.S. Operations, issued a message Sept. 20, with information regarding relief and recovery efforts of CRS and Catholic Charities USA in the areas affected by recent natural disasters and how people may donate to these efforts.

She noted that the 7.1 magnitude earthquake Sept. 19 struck south of Mexico City, killing at least 200 so far, with more casualties expected. The quake struck less than two weeks after an 8.1 earthquake hit Oaxaca, Mexico, killing dozens of people and damaging thousands of homes.

Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm, is currently barrelling across many of the same Caribbean islands already devastated by Hurricane Irma. "Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, where Catholic Charities, our sister agency, is responding," Rosenhauer said. "As the North American members of the worldwide CARITAS Federation, CRS and Catholic Charities provides relief and support to people in the United States and U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, while CRS works within its church partners on the ground to respond to these emergencies overseas."

People can donate directly to both Catholic Relief Services' and Catholic Charities' hurricane and earthquake relief efforts.

Visit this link for information on how you can donate and support Catholic Charities' hurricane relief efforts: https://catholiccharitiesusa.org/

Visit this link for information on how you can donate and support Catholic Relief Services' earthquake and hurricane relief efforts: https://www.crs.org/

Visit this link for information in Spanish on how you can donate and support Catholic Relief Services: https://www.crsespanol.org/