Manila archdiocese starts calamity fund drive

Metro Manila’s Roman Catholic dioceses have started a donation drive for people affected by the heavy rains and floods brought by Supertyphoon “Carina” and the enhanced southwest monsoon. In a circular issued on Friday, Cardinal Jose Advincula, archbishop of Manila, said there will be a second collection during all masses on Saturday evening and for the whole day of Sunday in parishes, chaplaincies and mission stations of the archdiocese, which covers Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, most of Pasay and parts of Taguig. The collections, which must be remitted to the archdiocese’s accounting office by Aug. 7, will be used for the benefit of the victims, as well as the poor, hungry and needy who were affected by the typhoon.

On its Facebook page, Caritas Philippines, the humanitarian arm of the Catholics Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said it opened bank accounts to receive donations for the typhoon victims. Through Caritas, the dioceses of Caloocan, Cubao and Novaliches also appealed for monetary or material aid for residents whose homes have been damaged and who have lost their belongings. Advincula requested priests, consecrated men and women, and lay leaders “to continue extending the compassion of the Lord Jesus” to those affected by the typhoon. —JEROME ANING