Thursday, September 1, 2005

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The pictures of the disaster that has impacted the lives of our neighbors on the Gulf Coast of the United States have touched all our hearts. Many people have already come to Atlanta and its environs to seek relief and assistance. Many of you are already helping relatives and friends directly. Today I invite all of us to offer whatever financial help that we can to provide for many of the human necessities that are in such short supply for these people.

I am asking that every parish in the Archdiocese of Atlanta take up a special collection which will be sent to Catholic Charities USA in order to assist in the response that the Church in the United States is now making to the people of that region.

I also ask for your prayers for the comfort and assistance of the hundreds of thousands of people who are homeless, injured, and afraid for their safety and for their future.

I know that the hearts of the people of the Archdiocese of Atlanta are generous and that we welcome the opportunity to offer our help and our prayers for those who have been so seriously affected.

With every prayerful best wish, may I remain,

Yours in Christ,

Wilton D. Gregory,

Archbishop of Atlanta