Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Fla., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, asked for prayers Oct. 12 for favorable weather and assistance for those impacted by devastating fires raging through Northern California.
"As brave men and women respond to these disasters, battling the fires and helping people to safety, we call upon God for improved weather, for the blessing of rain and favorable winds, to assist them," he stated. "We pray that those who are missing or are still in harm's way will be found and protected. May God grant eternal rest to those who have died, and bring them into glory with him forever."
To read the entire text of the statement, visit http://www.usccb.org/news/2017/17-187.cfm.
While firefighters in northern California are currently battling 17 wildfires in five counties, Bishop Robert Vasa of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, one of the hardest hit areas, is typing updates and messages of support from his car, in between visits to evacuation centers.
“Our diocese has been hit hard, as you know well, and is in an ongoing state of uncertainty,” he said in his Tuesday message.
Updates from Bishop Vasa and the Diocese of Santa Rosa can be found on the diocesan website as well as the diocesan Facebook page.
To read the full article on the Diocese of Santa Rosa from Catholic News Agency, visit https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/bishop-vasa-on-california-fires-our-diocese-has-been-hit-hard-21544.
For information about how you can assist or donate to fire recovery needs through Catholic Charities of Santa Rosa, visit http://www.srcharities.org/fire-recovery
On Oct. 13, Pope Francis sent a message to Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, expressing his condolences for the victims of the wildfires in California. Read the pope's message at http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/10/13/171013f.html
Photo above: Fire consumes a barn as an out of control wildfire moves through the area in Glen Ellen, Calif., Oct 9, 2017. Courtesy of Catholic News Agency. Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.