Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Port au Prince, Haiti | SHAUL SCHWARZ

The following message is  a statement from Bishop Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando:

The earthquake which hit the country of Haiti on January 12th has, by initial reports, cost the lives of an untold number of Haitians and devastated Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region. Haiti, the poorest nation in our hemisphere, has long been neglected by her neighbors and the larger world community, but is in need of their help at this hour of need. I urge our government to provide immediate relief and assistance to our neighbor.

Moreover, I urge President Obama to immediately designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, so that Haitian nationals can remain in the United States, work, and send money back to their families in their homeland. In the past two years, Haiti has suffered numerous hurricanes and an earthquake and merits a TPS designation. This is a moral imperative.

I also pray for the soul of by brother bishop, Archbishop Joseph Serge Milot, who has been found in the rubble of archdiocesan headquarters in Port-au-Prince. May his soul and all of those killed in this tragedy rest in peace.

What is St. Charles doing?

In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, we will have a special second collection for Haiti relief the weekend of January 23/24. Continue to pray for all the Haitian people as well as relief service workers and others affected by this catastrophe.