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January 26, 2010
A Shepherd's
Message
By
Daniel Cardinal
DiNardo
"We all need to pray for the people of Haiti and to continue our efforts to bring hope and concrete help to them in the times ahead."
The past week has found us watching with horror at the events taking place in Haiti. The sheer devastation from the earthquake is incalculable. So many lives have been lost and so many members of the Body of Christ in that country are suffering terribly. At the same time, we have witnessed incredible strength, heroism and courage and astounding messages of faith and trust. In addition, the great people of our country have responded with aid and assistance. I asked for a special collection at all Masses this past weekend for Haiti. I am sure that you have responded. The results of our donations will go to Catholic Relief Services, the agency of the Catholic Church in the United States that provides both immediate and long-term help to those experiencing natural disasters and those caught in poverty and need. CRS was already on the ground in Haiti prior to the earthquake. The people there are professional in the best sense, their overhead is small, and their intelligent assessments of need are expert. CRS has acknowledged the difficulty in Haiti especially the lack of adequate infrastructures to funnel aid. Nevertheless, because of their existence on the ground already, they are already supplying much needed care. If you have not been able to donate as yet you can go to the CRS Web site, www.crs.org, for information and for ways to contribute. We all need to pray for the people of Haiti and to continue our efforts to bring hope and concrete help to them in the times ahead.
Each year on Jan. 22 the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates a Day of Prayer and Repentance for renewing our nation’s commitment to the protection of human life, life threatened by the legalization of abortion on demand by the Supreme Court in its Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. There is a rally held on the Mall in the nation’s Capital each year on that date. A hundred thousand people are present to pray, witness and work for the protection of human personal life and to bring an end to the scourge of abortion in our country. There is always a great Vigil Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the evening of Jan. 21. Because I am now the Chairman of the Pro-Life Committee of the United States Conference of Bishops, I will be the main celebrant of that Liturgy. It is a great honor and privilege for me to be able to celebrate that Mass and to offer a Word of encouragement and teaching in the homily. I ask for the prayers of all the members of this great Archdiocese, that I may be able to fulfill this responsibility with truth and charity. Please pray with me that the witness of people of faith on this issue will turn the hearts of many to a more profound Culture of Life in our country, for the unborn, for the aged and sick, for the homeless and the stranger. May the God of Life make us credible witnesses of the Gospel of Life.
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