August 16, 2006

Buffalo Diocese Participates in National Collection

for Hurricane Recovery

Rebuild Church, Rebuild Hope, the national collection to support hurricane relief efforts in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Biloxi, will be held in on August 26-27 in parishes throughout the Diocese of Buffalo. The theme, Rebuild Church, Rebuild Hope, is inspired by Bishop Thomas Rodi of Biloxi, who proclaimed to the bishops of the United States that to “rebuild the Church is to rebuild hope itself.”

These two dioceses, so devastated by the ravages of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, are still in a state if unimaginable need. Collections held in 2005 right after the hurricanes focused on immediate humanitarian relief and only scratched the surface of the needs involved.

This special collection focuses on rebuilding churches, schools and other essential parts of the parishes’ infrastructure which are needed to rebuild people’s hope. Rebuilding the Church and her structures is critically important now, as many civil jurisdictions declare that they are no longer able to assist those who were displaced by the 2005 hurricanes, and will be unable to do so in the future.

Last year, an emergency collection in the Diocese of Buffalo raised $1.3 million for immediate humanitarian needs.

-30-