Bishop calls for collection
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August 19, 2021Bishop McManus called on all parishes in the Diocese of Worcester to hold a second collection as soon as possible to support the Haitian people devastated by the earthquake. Many of the twinning parishes have already established special collections for the people.
Bishop McManus noted in his letter that the Diocese of Worcester has had a covenant of support with the Diocese of Les Cayes for more than 30 years. “Eight of our parishes support twin parishes in Les Cayes. In their tremendous need, our fellow Catholics in Les Cayes need the help of us all at this tragic time,” he wrote.
In 2017, Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes and Bishop McManus met in Worcester to sign a covenant of solidarity between the two dioceses, renewing a twinning relationship.The letter:
August 16, 2021Dear Monsignor/Father,
As you know the epicenter of last weekend’s earthquake in Haiti was in Les Cayes, a diocese with which we have had a long association. Hundreds were killed when the quake struck. Many more are injured, missing and homeless. Cardinal Chibly Langlois was injured when his residence collapsed. One of his priests was killed and it is reported that several children were killed during a baptism. This impoverished nation was still struggling from the deaths of more than 100,000 people in calamitous 2010 earthquake when the latest earthquake struck.
For more than 30 years the Diocese of Worcester has had a covenant of support with the Diocese of Les Cayes. Eight of our parishes support twin parishes in Les Cayes. In their tremendous need, our fellow Catholics in Les Cayes need the help of us all at this tragic time.
I am asking all parishes in the Diocese of Worcester to take up a second collection as soon as possible for disaster assistance in the Diocese of Les Cayes. I leave to your discretion the best weekend in the next few weeks to hold this collection. Please remit your second collection to the Finance Office of the Diocese of Worcester. We will make a full report during the Fall.
I am very grateful for all you are doing for the people of your parish and for the generosity of your parish to so many in need in our own diocese and in our covenant Diocese of Les Cayes.
With every prayerful best wish, I remain
Sincerely yours in Christ,
