MANILA – The Catholic Church has set the 25th and 26th of December to be national days of prayer for families affected by Typhoon Odette.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news website stated on Monday that its president, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, encouraged dioceses to dedicate the Christmas weekend to pray for the recovery of typhoon-ravaged areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
Apart from prayers, parishes are advised to keep a second collection at all Masses on the designated days for the typhoon victims.
The “Alay Kapwa Solidarity Fund” will be allotted for the collective emergency response of the Catholic Church, he added.
“We encourage everyone to remit all collections to Caritas Philippines that will then plan and implement our overall response,” David said.
“May this season of giving offer us more opportunities to do consistent acts of Alay Kapwa (offering of oneself),” he added.
The typhoon devastated about 10 dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis has requested for prayers and assistance for the typhoon victims.
“I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong typhoon, which has destroyed many homes,” said the pope, according to CBCP news website.
“May the Santo Niño [de Cebú] bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire all of us to give concrete help. The first concrete help is prayer, and other aids,” he added.
