The Archdiocese of Los Angeles Thursday called on parishes and Catholic schools across Los Angeles County to hold special collections to assist victims of a magnitude-7.4 earthquake in Colombia.
The emergency collections are planned during Masses on the weekends of Aug. 22-23 and Aug. 29-30, according to the archdiocese.
A special Mass dedicated to earthquake victims and the Colombian community will also be celebrated at 1 p.m. Sunday at St. Matthias Catholic Church, 7105 Mission Place in Huntington Park. The Mass will be presided over by the Rev. Rubén D. Restrepo, the church’s pastor and a native of Colombia.
The earthquake struck western Colombia near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó on Monday, displacing thousands of families, according to the archdiocese.
“As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering,” Sabrina Lopez, director of the Pontifical Mission Societies for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said in a statement. “Along with our financial support, we ask that every parish, school, and ministry remember the people of Colombia in your prayers.”
Money raised through the collections will be sent to Catholic Relief Services, the international relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States.
The archdiocese said donations can also be made directly to Catholic Relief Services by calling 877-435-7277.