US bishops urge prayer on anniversary of Haiti earthquake

Washington D.C., Jan 9, 2011 / 16:52 pm

As the first anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti approaches, U.S. bishops are urging Catholics across the states to pray in solidarity with the ravaged country.

The Jan. 12 disaster that killed over 200,000 people and left millions homeless in 2010 will be remembered by U.S. bishops this month. They encouraged Catholics to keep Haiti in their prayers and consider sending fresh donations. In addition to the devastating earthquake, Haitians have also endured massive cholera outbreaks in recent months and many still live in temporary shelters.

“Haiti and its people still very much need our prayers and solidarity,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, chairman of the Special Advisory Group for Haiti for the U.S. bishops' conference.

“As we approach the anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, we join together with parishes, Catholic schools, youth groups, colleges and universities from across the country to remember the tragic events of that fateful afternoon and to respond in a faith-filled way,” he said, Jan. 6.

Catholics are being invited by the bishops to pray a Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, from Jan. 12 to the celebration of Mass the weekend of Jan. 22-23 – the official date for the National Collection for Latin America, which includes Haiti and the Caribbean.

In addition to the novena, other catechetical and reflection resources from Catholic Relief Services can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/haiti/one-year-later.shtml, under the title One Year Later: Pray and Walk With our Sisters and Brothers in Haiti.