Emergency Aid to Haiti from the Catholic Church in Korea

     The CBCK Committee for "Caritas Coreana" (President: The Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myeong-ok) made the decision to help Haiti with 50,000 dollars as a part of emergency relief, which was devastated by the fierce 7.0 earthquake on January 12, 2010. Another 50,000 dollars from One-Body One-Spirit of the Archdiocese of Seoul, 10,000 dollar from the Catholic Health Association of Korea and 20,000 dollars from a businessman were donated. The total 130,000 dollars of the donations for the devastated was transmitted to Haiti through Caritas Internationalis.

     As additional assistance is likely to be needed for the long term, the Committee asked all dioceses, especially departments in charge of social welfare to promote fund-raising campaign and pray for people in Haiti, passing on reports on the current situation. In addition, every diocese has already started collecting fund for Haiti.

     The Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Bishop of Daejeon, said, "Giving a hand to those in difficulty is living out the Word of God." He also urged the faithful in Daejeon to pray for Haiti to overcome the tragedy, and convey 50,000 dollars to the seriously damaged nation through the Apostolic Nuncio in Korea.