Bishop asks flock to pay it forward for people impacted by Texas hurricane

Special collection slated in parishes across Diocese of Trenton this weekend
 
Drawing from the powerful memories of the Super Storm Sandy disaster, and the overwhelming Catholic response to local relief efforts, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced a special collection to be taken in all parishes of the Diocese of Trenton on Sept. 2 and 3 to assist communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas.
 
In a message posted Aug. 28 to diocesan media outlets and sent to all parishes, Bishop O’Connell said to his flock, “We who live in New Jersey are no strangers to the wrath of nature. The devastation of Hurricane Sandy lingers in our memories, the effects of which are still visible in places along our coastline.  Dioceses throughout the United States responded so generously to us in the Diocese of Trenton in our time of need, contributing almost $700,000 to our diocesan relief efforts through the outreach of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.” 

The Bishop continued, writing, “Now, as Hurricane Harvey wreaks havoc and destruction in Texas and along the Gulf Coast, I am asking the parishes in the Diocese of Trenton to respond with a similar generosity by making a contribution to the Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund.”  The special second collection will be taken at all Masses over Labor Day Weekend, the Bishop explained. Bishop O’Connell stated that the collected funds, in their entirety, will go to the relief effort being conducted by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Anyone who misses the collection this weekend may send their donation (marked Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund) to the Diocese, or can make a donation online.  For mailing and other information, go to dioceseoftrenton.org/relief.

Asking that the Catholics of his Diocese be generous in their support and keep those impacted by the storm in prayer, Bishop O’Connell cited the writings of St. Augustine: “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”