My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The events of this week in Haiti have shocked the world and us here in the Diocese of Nashville. We have a double reason for our sadness and sorrow. Father Edwige Carré, pastor of Holy Name parish in Nashville, a priest of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, lost his brother and three other family members, as well as his own Archbishop. Also many parishes there are twinned with parishes of our diocese, and there are deep bonds of affection and concern that are naturally shared.
Because of these relationships, the call of Francis Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for each diocese to take up a special collection has a special meaning and urgency for us.
I am asking that all parishes in the Diocese of Nashville take up a special collection this weekend to assist the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Because Catholic Relief Services has been there for years, and has a well established program in place, the proceeds of this special collection will be immediately forwarded to them in order that they can provide food, water, medicines and shelter.
This is our first response. I wish to be in a position to send our offering by the end of this week. Consequently, after this special collection is received, I will ask the parishes’ pastors and staffs to deposit their gift and send us one check, which will, in turn, be combined with our offering from my office and all of the parishes of the diocese. Our combined gift will then be sent to Catholic Relief Services.
Following this initial effort, there will be more opportunities for us to respond to the needs of specific parishes and institutions in Haiti, with which we have partnered to serve the poor. There will be a Community Prayer Service for the People of Haiti at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave. Nashville, TN. The service is open to the public.
Our first response is to the efforts of Catholic Relief Services. They have a great track record, which I’m sure you can review online.
Next weekend, there will be a second collection in our parishes for the Church in Latin America. We have it every year, and thus we will take up this particular collection this year as well.
Please keep Father Carré, his family, and our twinned parishes, schools, and hospital in your prayers.
Wishing you every blessing, I am
Most Reverend David R. Choby
Bishop of Nashville