Advance Notice: St Mary’s Lenten Project – California Wildfire Assistance
We are certain you are all aware of the devastation in California. You may have even seen pictures of what is left of Corpus Christi Church with severe damage to their school. The miracle here is that the tabernacle was the only thing unharmed. Our thought is that this tragedy is something that we as St Mary’s can relate to since we suffered a similar destruction 35 years ago here with the Plainfield Tornado of 1990. With that weighing heavy on our hearts, we reached out to the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to find the best possible way we can help. After a tearful conversation with Sister M. Anncarla Costello we have committed to provide financial assistance to the Wildfire Victims Emergency Relief Fund through our Lenten project. This will replace our CRS Rice Bowl efforts of the past few years
Sister said they have been approached by several organizations wishing to send blankets and clothing to aid victims, however at this time, those effected have nowhere to sleep let alone a closet to store clothes. It is important to give them right now what they need most, financial assistance to find a place to sleep. She said people have not only lost their homes, cars, belongings and church; many have also lost their places of employment. Especially hard hit are the victims of the Eaton fire which is a lower middle-class area of Los Angeles. While their church, St. Elizabeth, was spared from the flames, the smoke damage is so severe that they will have to repair 70-80% of the property. One worker at the Archdiocese had her home spared while the rest of the neighborhood was destroyed, but they cannot return to the home because the smoke and heat have forced their older home to be declared uninhabitable.
The Archdiocese itself is asking all of its parishes to contribute to this cause and have established the Wildfire Victims Emergency Relief Fund, whereby both Catholic and non-Catholic, will be able to receive a one-time grant for $1000. Anyone in need of financial assistance due to the fires are eligible: parishioners, neighbors, or anyone can apply at one of the area churches. Funds are being held at the Archdiocese level and they do have protocols and procedures in place to make certain no person/family is able to fraud the system. The Archdiocese is offering this grant to all persons, in their words; “All are our sisters and brothers in Christ.”
So, plan ahead as Ash Wednesday is March 5th and Easter Sunday April 20th. If you were planning on sending monies to The American Red Cross, various Go Fund Me pages or other organizations aiding the wildfire victims, consider putting that donation into our pool of funds going to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Sister has assured us that 100% of the money donated will go directly to persons in need. The Archdiocese is not holding back any administration fees to process these grants.
The April Envelope packet will have a special envelope for this effort. We will also have envelopes available in the narthex and reception desk for you to use and a new fund is established for OSV online giving for this effort. Please make use of these methods to support those in need in the Los Angeles area.
