Catholic Dioceses Contribute More Than $58.7 Million to Recovery Efforts in the Wake of 2017 Hurricanes and Mexico Earthquakes

May 21, 2018
By Ss. Peter & Paul

WASHINGTON—In response to the
destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and earthquakes in Mexico,
Catholics across the United States have contributed nearly $59 million to relief
and recovery efforts. Initiated by the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops (USCCB), special collections and funds were launched last year to
support humanitarian relief efforts as well as to provide pastoral services and
financial support to rebuild facilities in dioceses impacted by these
disasters.

“The devastation wrought by last
year’s unprecedented disasters continues to impact the lives of our brothers
and sisters in the United States, across the Caribbean, and in Mexico. We are
profoundly grateful to the dioceses that took up special collections or made
donations,” said Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, chairman of the USCCB Committee on
National Collections “The support of parishioners is an act of charity and a
reflection of love for neighbor. We ask for continued prayers of support for the
people affected by these historic natural disasters.”

As of mid-May 2018, US dioceses have
remitted the following amounts for relief efforts:

Hurricane
Harvey – $37.2 Million

Hurricane
Irma – $12.8 Million

Hurricane
Maria – $6.1 Million

Mexico
Earthquakes – $3.5 Million

Humanitarian
relief and recovery efforts are being provided by Catholic Charities USA
(CCUSA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CCUSA is receiving 50% of Hurricane
Harvey funds and 30% of both Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria funds; CRS is
receiving 20% of Hurricane Irma funds. Initial funding from the special
collections supported immediate needs such as food, clean water, hygiene
products, and shelter. Long-term disaster recovery is currently underway. CCUSA
recently distributed $13.5 million to nine Catholic Charities agencies in Texas
and Louisiana where Hurricane Harvey affected countless people.

In response
to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, CRS worked with Caritas Havana in
Cuba to provide roofing and mattresses to affected families. In the British
Virgin Islands, CRS, Caritas Antilles and the British Red Cross set up a joint
cash program to help 740 families buy essential items. In Dominica, CRS and Caritas
Antilles distributed 750 hygiene kits, 1,590 tarps, 920 buckets and 660 water
filters to more than 600 families in four communities in the hardest-hit
southeastern region. In the Dominican Republic, CRS partners provided 1,970
families with vouchers for food, hygiene and living supplies, and 330 families
with hygiene kits. Teams also worked with the local health ministry to raise
awareness about health and hygiene, particularly the danger of waterborne
diseases and other health risks.

Two Mexico earthquakes days apart killed nearly 500
people in September 2017 and destroyed homes, infrastructure and utilities, CRS,
Caritas Mexico and local partners constructed transitional shelters and
distributed 2,859 tarps to vulnerable families. They set up communal cooking
facilities to ensure daily hot meals and provided living supplies, including
kitchen sets and locally made clay ovens. CRS and its partners also arranged
counseling for 1,040 children and young people dealing with grief, distress and
trauma from the earthquakes. Moving forward, CRS will train people to build
back better using disaster-resilient construction techniques, and to maintain
their shelters. In four communities, community-based disaster response teams
are being trained in first aid. This outreach was done through CRS’s direct
fundraising efforts.

The
USCCB Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions is managing the US Church share of
Hurricane Harvey (50%), Hurricane Irma (30%) and Hurricane Maria (55%) funds. The
Subcommittee has awarded $14 million in Hurricane Harvey grants, and $3
million in Hurricane Irma grants to assist with Church repairs to parishes and
schools in dioceses impacted by the hurricanes. Requests from dioceses for
Hurricane Maria support will be considered at the
Subcommittee’s June 14 meeting.

The
USCCB Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America is managing the Caribbean
Church share of Hurricane Irma (20%) and Hurricane Maria (15%) funds, as well
as all contributions to the Mexico Earthquakes fund.

Distributions
to the responding organizations will continue to be made as funds are received.


Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, National Collections, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi,
Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, Mexico Earthquakes, Gospel,
charity, media, internet, print

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Media Contact:

Judy Keane

202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops