Card Gracias urges support for the Church's commitment to people affected by monsoons (video)
by Nirmala Carvalho

The head of India’s Catholic Church launches two fundraisers. Donations can be sent to the Archdiocese of Mumbai and Caritas India. More than 400 people have died, and more than 4.7 million people have been displaced and now shelter in refugee camps.

 


Mumbai (AsiaNews) – For weeks India has been battered by monsoon rains. Reacting to the crisis, Card Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), has called on the country’s Catholic dioceses and associations as well as on ordinary believers to support the Church's commitment to people affected by monsoons.

His appeal concern two fundraising campaigns: one by his archdiocese and the other by Caritas India. Since the crisis developed, the Catholic Church’s main charity has sent volunteers across the country to assess damage and help people.

In Mumbai, people can donate online to the Centre for Social Action, or by check addressed to Centre for Social Action, Eucharistic Congress Building - Ground floor, Convent Street, Colaba, Mumbai 400 039.

Whether in India or around the world, donors can support Caritas by sending money to CARITAS INDIA A/C No: 11050200039552; bank NAME: THE FEDERAL BANK LTD, IFSC code: FDRL0001105; address: M-17, CONNAUGHT CIRCUS, NEW DELHI - 110 001.

Donors are asked to send an email to accounts@caritasindia.org with the sender's name and address, donation amount, date of transfer, transaction reference (UTR), purpose of transfer and the name of bank (click here for the full appeal).

“On behalf of the Catholic Church in India,” writes the cardinal, “I make an earnest appeal to all the members of the hierarchy and the leadership in the Church, to come together in solidarity and encourage the community of faithful, institutions congregation and people of goodwill to contribute generously to this humanitarian call and express our solidarity at this crucial moment.”

It is urgent, he goes on to say, “to reach out to many communities who are stranded and isolated in the most remote and unreached villages. Our timely assistance will help meet the needs of the affected and reduce the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in different parts of the country. There would be a huge need emerging to rebuild the lives of the people and communities with rehabilitation and restoration of livelihoods.”