Reacting to the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Pope Francis has asked Catholics to be in solidarity with the region. The death toll had reached close to 20,000 as of February 9, with the number of dead expected to climb further. Watching the horrifying scenes of children being pulled from the rubble is heart breaking too.
Therefore, Bishop Checchio calls on the faithful and people of good will in the Diocese of Metuchen to prayerfully and financially support the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in their response to our brothers and sisters in their hour of need.
Catholic Near East Welfare Association has launched an emergency campaign to shelter survivors and provide bedding, food, medicines, nursing formula, diapers, and clothing to more than 2,000 families for three months in the Aleppo and Hama areas of northern Syria. Anyone who would rather mail a check rather than give online can mail it to Catholic Near East Welfare Association, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022-4195. Please indicate it for earthquake relief on the check.
Catholic Relief Services, the overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, was collecting funds to assist its local partners, Caritas Turkey and Caritas Syria, particularly in Aleppo and Lattakia, Syria, where extensive damage has been reported. Again, if anyone would prefer not to give online, their address is Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 5200, Harlan, IA 51593-0700. Please indicate it is for earthquake relief on the check.