A Message from Bishop Michael Martin

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

All of our hearts and minds are turned toward the western part of our state, which has experienced catastrophic damage from Tropical Storm Helene. More than half of our diocese’s 46 counties have been declared federal disaster areas, with 44 of our parishes and missions located within this territory. While church buildings were largely spared, families and communities have been utterly devastated – but with trust in God we will come back from this, together.

For those of you who are suffering so much from this natural disaster, especially those who have lost loved ones, please know you are not alone! Motivated by the image of Christ Crucified, we stand with you, we love you, and we are lifting you up in constant prayer.

The good people of our diocese are also pitching in to get you the help you need, now and over the long haul. So many have sprung into action – collecting bottled water, food and other emergency supplies to help those in need right now. Churches, schools and the Diocesan Pastoral Center have become staging grounds for supply drives, with staff and volunteers pushing out daily deliveries to affected areas. An online giving effort to support Catholic Charities’ relief work has seen an incredible response from people across our diocese, the nation and beyond.

If you are able, please join in responding to this crisis:

•  Above all, please pray – pray for all those who have lost family and friends, their homes, their livelihoods and their sense of security and well-being. United in prayer, we remain close to Jesus and to each other.

• If you do not live in the affected areas, please give generously to local supply drives in your communities and to a special collection that will be taken up at Masses Oct. 5-6. Funds will be used to help both the parishes most affected by the storm and Catholic Charities’ efforts to help in these communities. Check with your parish or go to www.catholicnewsherald.com for details.



• Lastly, please keep reaching out to sustain these efforts. In a few days the news reporting will end, but the devastation and suffering will remain. Catholic Charities is on the ground to coordinate long-term recovery efforts to help people rebuild their lives over the coming months and beyond. Please consider giving to Catholic Charities’ Helene Relief Fund at www.ccdoc.org/helenerelief.

I am so grateful to everyone who is working courageously and generously in this response effort. We rejoice that God has blessed us with a strong community of faith, united in times of difficulty as well as in times of celebration. 

Let us all act in love and mercy, standing together as people who know that Jesus is one who has experienced all of this. And unlike His followers who initially ran from the challenge when things looked grim, we will remain with all those who are suffering, sharing a vision of hope for the life to come.

Peace,

+ Most Reverend Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv.

Bishop of Charlotte