Tag: relief

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Kevin Wondrash

Edgewood student relief fund

MADISON — Sr. Mary Ellen Gevelinger, interim president of Edgewood College, announced the Presidential Relief Fund on April 8.

“Today, at my request, the Board of Trustees approved a $500,000 student relief fund,” Sister Mary Ellen said.

“This provides immediate cash relief for students. So many service industries that our students rely on for employment are affected. We are fortunate to be able to offer a program that will provide some support for our students to help with basic needs like groceries, rent, and unexpected expenses.”

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Chris Lee

Catholic Charities to distribute flood relief assistance in Sauk County

BARABOO — Catholic Charities Madison is continuing to financially assist recent flood impacted households in South Central Wisconsin.

On September 27, Catholic Charities distributed 101 gift cards to households in Dane County facing the challenges of recovery from August flooding. Residents of Cross Plains, Mazomanie, Black Earth, and Belleville were able to use the funds to defray their own personal expenses.

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Kevin Wondrash

Diocese encourages collection for hurricane relief

MADISON — The Diocese of Madison has encouraged parishes, at the discretion of the pastor, to take up a special collection beginning the weekend of October 29 for the relief of Hurricane Matthew victims in the United States and Caribbean countries, especially in Haiti.

“There is no requirement from the Diocese of Madison that a parish perform a special collection for Hurricane Matthew victims, although it is generally encouraged, per the discretion of the pastor, as a Corporal Work of Mercy during the Jubilee Year of Mercy,” said Vicar General Msgr. James Bartylla.

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Chris Lee

Diocese encourages support for earthquake relief

MADISON — Following upon Pope Francis’ call for assistance for survivors of the massive earthquakes in Nepal and India, Bishop Robert C. Morlino has encouraged people in the Diocese of Madison to provide support for earthquake relief.

It is left to the discretion of pastors as to whether a special collection is held in parishes for relief efforts. If a collection is held, parishes are asked to send contributions to the diocesan Office of Finance, which will forward funds to Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

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Susanna D. Herro President, St. Thomas More Society

Catholic attorneys impact hunger here and abroad

MADISON — The St. Thomas More Society of Catholic attorneys in the Diocese of Madison challenged themselves to live Lent by making a difference in world and local hunger issues.

In March, approximately 30 attendees were inspired by an ethics lecture based on the life of Abraham Lincoln. They were further inspired to give $300 to the Rice Bowl project of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Mobile Food Pantry locations in diocese

The hard work and dedication of volunteers at these participating parishes help relieve hunger: Corpus Christi in Boscobel, St. Joseph in Fort Atkinson, SS. Anthony and Phillip in Highland, St. John Vianney in Janesville, St. Clare Parish and St. Vincent de Paul in Monroe, St. Mary in Palmyra, St. Mary of the Most Holy Rosary in Pardeeville, St. John in Patch Grove, St. Mary in Platteville, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish and St. Vincent de Paul in Portage, and Sacred Heart in Reedsburg.

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Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

Pope prays, calls for aid for typhoon victims

Young residents in Cebu, Philippines, hold signs asking for help and food along the highway November 11 after Super Typhoon Haiyan hit. The typhoon, one of the strongest storms in history, is believed to have killed tens of thousands, but aid workers were still trying to reach remote areas. (CNS photo/Charlie Saceda, Reuters)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis led prayers for people hit by a deadly typhoon in the Philippines and surrounding region and asked that concrete aid be sent soon.

During the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on November 10, the pope expressed his concern and prayers for the estimated tens of thousands of people dead and others affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated parts of the central Philippines November 8.

“I wish to express my closeness to the people of the Philippines and that region that has been hit by a terrible typhoon. Unfortunately the victims are many and the damage is enormous,” the pope said.

He asked the tens of thousands of people gathered in the square to join him in a moment of silent prayer “for these brothers and sisters and let’s try also to make our concrete help reach them.”

Pope makes donation

In response to the tragedy, Pope Francis made an initial donation of $150,000 for the relief efforts through the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

The money, sent through the local churches hardest hit by the storm, was earmarked to support “assistance for the displaced and those impacted by the flooding,” the Vatican said in a written statement.

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Tony Magliano

West Africa desperately needs your help

Making a Difference column logo

Imagine being very hungry nearly all the time. Imagine telling your children to wait until the end of the day to eat a very small meal. Imagine eating every other day. Imagine not eating at all.

Very sadly, over 18 million people in West Africa’s Sahel region — an area between the Sahara Desert and the African tropics — do not have to imagine severe hunger; they are either experiencing it, or getting very close to it.

Crises have grown

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Food and nutrition crises in the region have grown in frequency and severity in recent years, mostly driven by sporadic rainfall, insufficient local harvests, high food prices, and insecurity.

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Audrey Mettel Fixmer

‘Vision’ becomes better with age

Grand Mom column by Audrey Mettel Fixmer

One of the benefits of aging is that our vision improves so much.

What? You say you have more trouble reading the fine print on prescription bottles? And you need stronger light bulbs and magnifying glasses?

Oh, sure, but that’s not the kind of vision I’m thinking about. I’m thinking of hindsight. You know, they always say that hindsight is 20-20.

So here’s what’s so great about it. We have perspective now. We can look back at the things that drove us crazy with worry, like a messy house when guests arrived. But now we know that it was never the picture-perfect house that mattered, but the warmth of our hospitality.

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