Please join us in prayer for the terrible suffering of the Haitian people. Every natural disaster of this size and scope reminds me of our own worst natural disaster in the United States where 8,000 people lost their lives in the 1900 Galveston Storm. The shocking photos and horrific stories that are emerging and will continue to be known in the next few weeks are stark reminders that natural disasters do not change with time and observe no borders. Ultimately, we are all human beings with simple basic necessities and must reach out to one another during these tragic events.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement yesterday acknowledging the death of thousands, including the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince. Catholic Relief Services is one of many organizations preparing a major emergency response to the people of Haiti. Please anticipate a second collection during Mass this weekend. If you can make a small sacrifice this month, please give money for the recovery efforts. If you can’t, please offer your prayers for those trapped and struggling to survive, the rescuers digging for them, the survivors without water, the workers bringing aid, and the souls who have perished.

If you’d like to make a direct donation to Catholic Relief Services please use their online donation form.

You can donate to the Red Cross by sending the text “HAITI” to “90999” and $10 will be automatically charged to your cell phone bill. You can also give online, via phone or even through wire transfer. Donate to the Red Cross

Doctors without Borders, the international medical humanitarian organization founded by doctors and journalists in France in 1971, does have people in Haiti working to save lives. Donate to Doctors Without Borders

In the same spirit that the world responded to us in 1900, and we responded during the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, so shall we again reach out with love and generosity to the people of Haiti this week to bring them aid and comfort.