Further to my circular informing all parishes and congregations of the need for our Church to response to the devastation due to the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, the Diocesan Council has met on January 31, 2010 and decided to disburse the amount collected for the Haiti Relief Fund through Church World Service (CWS) and inform this decision to all members of the Diocese.

Each parish and congregation can collect voluntary contributions from our members for relief work and remit the amounts on or before Jan 31 to the diocesan office in NY. the diocesan council will make a decision on its disbursement. I also urge all of you to continue to stand with the people of Haiti and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

The deadly earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, has devastated that country, which was already one of the most impoverished nations in our western hemisphere.  The images and reports from Haiti of collapsed buildings and injured people are heart-wrenching.  The United States government, faith based organizations and the international community has initiated swift and aggressive responses to minimize the loss of lives, help the injured, and feed, clothe and provide shelter to those displaced by this tragedy.  Our thoughts and prayers should be with the people of Haiti and all the relief efforts that are progressing to deal with this catastrophe.