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Dear Father,

The Archdiocese of Detroit will join with dioceses across the country this weekend, the 16th and 17th of January, in taking up a special collection for the humanitarian efforts in Haiti. In a letter from Cardinal George, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop Dolan, chair of the Board of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), we are asked to consider how the earthquake "destroyed countless homes, churches, seminaries, schools, and other buildings, and has left millions without the most basic necessities of life." In the words of the bishops: "Our faith compels us to pray for and reach out to our brothers and sisters in their time of suffering."

I would ask that you treat this as you would any other special collection. If there are checks donated at Mass, they should be made payable to the parish. Those checks and whatever cash is collected should be deposited into your parish account. One check should then be remitted by the parish to the Detroit archdiocese; it should indicate that these funds are for CRS disaster relief. If parishioners prefer to donate outside the context of this weekend's liturgy, they can do so via our Web site www.AODonline.org/Haiti.

Following the 11 a.m. Mass this Sunday at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, I will be leading a rosary for all those impacted by the disaster in Haiti— the victims, the survivors, the rescue workers, and the relief teams. Under separate cover, the Communications Department will be sending parish resources from CRS, e.g. homily notes, offertory petitions and prayer services.

Thank you in advance for your solidarity with the people Haiti. They bear a heavy cross, but we know the Lord will not turn away from them. He is with them now and forever as they struggle with an uncertain future.

Sincerely yours in the Lord,

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron
Archbishop of Detroit