財團法人台灣省天主教新竹教區附屬移民及外勞服務中心

Hsinchu Catholic Diocese Migrants and Immigrants Service Center

30051新竹市水源街81號

連絡電話：03-5735387、03-5735375  傳真：03-5735377

E-mail address: mcdhsinchu@yahoo.com

December 24, 2011

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

We have all heard about the tragic situation in northern Mindanao, Philippines after Typhoon Sendong (known internationally as Washi) hit the area on Friday and Saturday of last week.  Water rushing down from the mountains and bringing trees and other debris crashed through the densely populated areas of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.  Columban missionaries worked in these areas for years and still staff the Holy Rosary Parish in Cagayan de Oro.  From media reports 1,500 bodies have been recovered and 2,000 people are still missing.

Bishop John Baptist Lee has approved to have a second mass collection during all the English masses in the diocese on Sunday, January 8, 2012.  Can you please inform the parishioners next Sunday so they can come prepared with their donations.  Can you kindly forward your donations to our Hsinchu Catholic Diocese Migrants and Immigrants Service Center bank account.  Please ring Sr Joyce for the account number.

The bishop has approved to have all the donations sent to our Columban Cagayan de Oro Relief Fund. I am hoping we can forward the donations to this Fund by Wednesday January 11.

Let us continue to pray for those who died in the typhoon, those still missing and the thousands of people who have been left homeless.

Regards,

Fr Peter O’Neill

Hsinchu Catholic Diocese

Migrants and Immigrants Chaplain