Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, has asked each parish in the Archdiocese to take up a collection to help with the immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation in the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina in the Southern United States.
Funds generated by the collection will be turned over to Catholic Charities USA which has responded quickly to the emergency by providing food, shelter, and medical support to thousands left homeless by the Hurricane.
The Cardinal also urged area Catholics to pray for the people of the Southern United States including the Diocese of Biloxi, where 20 percent of the Catholic churches and one third of the Catholic schools have been destroyed.
People wishing to donate directly to Catholic Charities USA can do so by mailing checks to Catholic Charities USA Hurricane Katrina P.O. Box 25168 Alexandria, VA 22313-9788, or calling (800) 919-9338, or logging onto www.catholiccharitiesusa.org to donate online.