New Hampshire bishop seeks help for California's wildfire victims

Published: 2007-11-06

MANCHESTER, N.H. (CNS) -- Bishop John B. McCormack of Manchester asked Catholics in his diocese to help victims of the recent wildfires in California during Mass collections the weekend of Nov. 3-4. The contributions will be sent to Catholic Charities San Diego, which at the height of the fires had mobilized immediately to assess needs and establish a service station at Qualcomm Stadium. The football stadium doubled as a shelter for as many as 15,000 evacuees during the wildfires. A Manchester diocesan spokesman said it would take a week to 10 days for parishes to tally the collection. "Despite the tragedy and devastation caused by the wildfires in California, the deep and abiding goodness of the human family always shines through in such difficult moments," said Bishop McCormack in his letter to diocesan pastors. "The church is often at the heart of such expressions of solidarity and compassion," he added, requesting that Catholics not only donate money to help victims but also asking them to pray for those affected by the tragedy.

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