29 August 2017

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I’m sure you have heard the news, and seen terrifying pictures, of the severe impact Hurricane Harvey has had on the Texas coast towns and cities these past few days. Its effects are expected to spread into Louisiana as well. Praise God that only a few have lost their lives in this situation. But the damage of wind and very high flooding to homes, churches, schools, and businesses – in short, to whole communities – is extreme. Many buildings, even whole neighborhoods, have already been lost. Many more, although still standing now, will need to be gutted and rebuilt completely, as standing water and mold work their ruin in the coming weeks.

The area affected includes several dioceses, most catastrophically the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, now the home of our own Cardinal DiNardo. These dioceses, with their parishes and other institutions, and especially with the Church’s charity organizations, will be at the forefront of caring for those displaced by the storm and the flooding, and likewise of the coming efforts to rebuild. They, and other worthwhile organizations involved in the same good works, will need your prayers and support.

Accordingly, I and all my brother bishops throughout the country are asking for your assistance. A collection for Catholic Charities USA, which will be used only for the immediate care of those who have lost or will lose homes or businesses to Hurricane Harvey, or for the clean-up and rebuilding efforts to come, will be taken up at all parishes in our diocese, during all the Masses for Sunday, September 10 (including Saturday’s vigil Masses). You can also make a donation directly to them for the same purpose, at their website, www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. Please be as generous as possible. Above all, please pray, and keep praying in the weeks to come, for the health and safety of all those affected.

May God reward you for your great generosity, and may He hear and grant all our prayers for those who have been and will be in the path of this very destructive storm.

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless

Bishop of Sioux City