Nationwide Catholic Response To Haiti Earthquake Will be Discussed on CatholicTV Talk Show

On Friday, January 15th, support for victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti will be discussed on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”. Tiziana Dearing, President of Catholic Charities in Boston will appear on the show to discuss the response to the earthquake. This response includes a $5 million commitment by Catholic Relief Services and a nationwide effort to raise funds for victims via a special collection at Catholic parishes.

This episode of “This is the Day” will air online at CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV at 10:30AM ET.

Mrs. Dearing will discuss the call to parishes across the nation for a second collection at Masses during the weekend of January 16 and 17, 2010.

This call originated from a letter from Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. The two wrote a letter to bishops asking them to “encourage your pastors to take up a second collection for the people and Church of Haiti this weekend, January 16 and 17, 2010.”

The letter went on to say: “Catholic Relief Services is already mounting a major emergency response to this severe disaster and has committed an initial $5 million to fund relief efforts which are likely to go on for some time. Your help and the help of the Catholic people of the United States are urgently needed.”

In addition, Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston announced that Catholic Charities Boston is actively engaged in working with the local Haitian community to assist families locally who have loved ones impacted by the earthquake. Additional information may be found at www.CCAB.org

Across the United States prayers and collections are being offered in support of those who have died and those who are waiting to hear from loved ones.
On Friday, the 15th , Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist for Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, to remember those who lost their lives or are suffering in any way due to the earthquake in Haiti at 6:30PM. Mass will be celebrated in English and Haitian Creole