My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Words cannot adequately express the sorrow and sadness I feel in response to the back-to-back tragedies that have struck Mexico, the Caribbean, Texas, and Florida these last couple of weeks. The immense loss of human life and the destruction of whole cities and island counties are hard to imagine or emotionally comprehend. Yet a few words do come to mind:
WHY? In the face of overwhelming tragedy, it is a human question that begs an answer. But no satisfactory answer is available. Science can offer some technical explanations, history can offer others. We can turn to decisions made by urban planners and government agencies. These are partial glimpses to an answer. Religion can also be of great help. But, answers rooted in religious terms not founded on genuine faith are not only unsatisfactory; they can also be harmful. Our FAITH is rooted not in easy answers or clever twists of vocabulary, but in the Person ot Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord. The most important word Jesus brings to us in times such as these is HOPE. Our message, then, must be a message of hope which transcends even the darkest of days and the shadows of death.
Finally, knowing that “why” may be an unsatisfactory question, we are filled with even greater faith, strengthened by our hope in Jesus, which leads us to LOVE — the outpouring of action on behalf of those who suffer from the natural happenings and events of life, no matter how tragic. Once the initial shock settles, out of compassion and love for those who are our brothers and sisters, we can see in them the face of Christ, the Lord and in their loss a share in the Cross. It is from this foundation that I invite all of you to join our efforts to assist those in need through a second collection, the date of which is to be determined by the pastors/administrators in our parishes. I encourage your generous gifts to be made payable to your parish, and in the memo section of your check write, “Hurricane and Earththquake Relief Appeal.” The parish in turn will send one check to the Diocese of Fresno which will then send the proceeds directly to the bishop of the dioceses in most serious need.
Let us remember the victims and their loved ones in our prayers and to beg our gracious Lord for long-term relief from pain and suffering for all those experiencing the effects of conflicts and natural disasters.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Armando X. Ochoa, D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of Fresno
From Diocese of Fresno website.
It is interesting that Televangelist Pat Roberson has not offered his opinion about what God is doing through these disasters. Perhaps God is really angry with President Trump’s attack on the Paris Climate Agreement and the environment in general! Nature bats last!
What’s Pat’s take on this?
Perhaps he is angry about people ignoring the 10 Commandments.
The bishops used to call for prayers for natural disasters. The bishops abolished the rogation days where the faithful used to pray for God ‘a mercy, good weather and good crop yield.
These natural disasters are a sign from Almighty God for mankind to repent and convert before the Coming of the Son of Man our Lord Jesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords True God and True man. Didn’t Jesus tell the Apostles about the signs of the end times in the Holy Bible? Brothers and sisters in Christ we are living in the end times and it is time for each of us to get right with God. Things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. From here on in these disasters are going to increase in intensity and cause great loss of life. God has been very patient with mankind up till now but things are going to change for the worst unless we repent and convert. Pray the Rosary. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Pray Pray Pray!
It’s called the weather.