Washington D.C., Aug 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm
As the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina continues to unfold along the U.S. Gulf coast, The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced a nationwide collection to be taken up for victims of the disaster.
In a message sent Tuesday to all U.S. bishops, Bishop William Skylstad, head of the Conference asked that a special collection be taken up in the nation’s 195 dioceses in a spirit of “fraternal support to our brother bishops at this tragic time.”
Bishop Skylstad noted that while most of the bishops in that area are still unreachable due to downed phone, internet and communication lines, the USCCB had received a request for the collection.
“The devastation and destruction by Hurricane Katrina”, he wrote, “is being felt in many dioceses of the United States, but most especially in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.”