The Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People has issued a special statement concerning the plight now being faced by many in the Philippines, and a way for the rest of us to help our brothers and sisters in need.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Once again we have witnessed the catastrophic power of nature which in less than one month has hit the same area twice (Central and Southern Visayas) in the Philippines. On October 15, a devastating earthquake hit that nation, and then on November 7, Typhoon Haiyan swept away people and property along its course. The death toll is in the thousands, while the survivors struggle to put together what is left of their lives.
Our prayers and solidarity are offered to all the Filipino seafarers who are miles away from their loved ones, and who do not yet know their fate. We praise many of our Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) centres around the world for providing free telephone cards and internet access to allow Filipino seafarers to contact their families. Many of our AOS chaplains have celebrated Masses for the deceased, and have helped the seafarers make sense of such devastation and turmoil.
We appreciate the fact that Carnival Cruises has requested that AOS deploy Catholic chaplains on board several of their ships to support Filipino crews.
The great family of AOS would like to show its closeness and manifest its solidarity to the Filipino people. Therefore, as was done for the tsunami which struck the coast of Japan in 2011, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the AOS has decided to set up a special fund with an initial contribution of US$10,000. The fund will support long-term reconstruction projects, to be realized in cooperation with AOS-Philippines, benefitting the people of the sea in the affected areas when, after the initial weeks of emergency, people will have to return to their normal lives.
We would also be grateful if you could share this initiative, giving it all the exposure that you deem fit. In advance, we express our sincere thanks for your support and generosity, asking Mary, Star of the Sea to bless this initiative.
Antonio Maria Cardinal Veglio
President
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
X Joseph Kalathiparambil
Secretary
Details concerning efforts to raise funds within local dioceses which will be used in the rebuilding efforts will soon be announced, if they have not yet been made public.
Statement from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples
concerning a special fund set up to help in the Philippines
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Once again we have witnessed the catastrophic power of nature which in less than one month has hit the same area twice (Central and Southern Visayas) in the Philippines. On October 15, a devastating earthquake hit that nation, and then on November 7, Typhoon Haiyan swept away people and property along its course. The death toll is in the thousands, while the survivors struggle to put together what is left of their lives.
Our prayers and solidarity are offered to all the Filipino seafarers who are miles away from their loved ones, and who do not yet know their fate. We praise many of our Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) centres around the world for providing free telephone cards and internet access to allow Filipino seafarers to contact their families. Many of our AOS chaplains have celebrated Masses for the deceased, and have helped the seafarers make sense of such devastation and turmoil.
We appreciate the fact that Carnival Cruises has requested that AOS deploy Catholic chaplains on board several of their ships to support Filipino crews.
The great family of AOS would like to show its closeness and manifest its solidarity to the Filipino people. Therefore, as was done for the tsunami which struck the coast of Japan in 2011, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the AOS has decided to set up a special fund with an initial contribution of US$10,000. The fund will support long-term reconstruction projects, to be realized in cooperation with AOS-Philippines, benefitting the people of the sea in the affected areas when, after the initial weeks of emergency, people will have to return to their normal lives.
We would also be grateful if you could share this initiative, giving it all the exposure that you deem fit. In advance, we express our sincere thanks for your support and generosity, asking Mary, Star of the Sea to bless this initiative.
Antonio Maria Cardinal Veglio
President
Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People
X Joseph Kalathiparambil
Secretary
Details concerning efforts to raise funds within local dioceses which will be used in the rebuilding efforts will soon be announced, if they have not yet been made public.
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