The president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), Luis Arguelloannounced this Wednesday two actions to pray for the victims of the effects of DANA and help survivors and those affected. Thus, during the week of the Plenary Assembly (November 18 to 22) a collection will take place in all parishes and a mass in the cathedral of La Almudena in Madrid.
On the one hand, all Spanish bishops will celebrate a mass as “spiritual support” on Tuesday, November 19 in the Madrid cathedral “offering the most radical thing that the Church can offer, which is hope in the resurrected Jesus Christ.” During the celebration, special requests will be made for people affected by the floods in Valenciabut also in points of Cuenca and Albacete, Catalonia and Andalusia.
In addition, on Sunday, November 24, the feast of Christ the King, the last great celebration of the Catholic liturgical year (the following Sunday will be Advent) a collection will be called in all the Eucharists held in Spain in favor of those affected by this catastrophe.
According to Argüello, it will be “a little help, because the economic needs for reconstruction are impressive.” »We need the State, the market and also civil society«, particularly the Christian community, »to lend a shoulder on this day«.
The president of the bishops reported that the archbishop of Valencia himself, Enrique Benaventhas informed him that he is “astonished by the enormity of the catastrophe”, but also conveyed “his emotion” by the number of volunteers mobilized, especially young people.
The Spanish Episcopal Conference has also launched a campaign to raise funds for the Diocese of Valencia through the Episcopate’s donation portal.www.donoamiiglesia.es‘. As soon as you access that address, a message invites the user to contribute their help to rebuild the parishes affected by DANA.
A link leads directly to another space where you can make a direct donation to the Catholic communities affected by the floods in the amount and frequency you wish. This tool also offers a donor service telephone number to answer questions, 900 10 91 30. As the CEE reminds, through donations to the Church, tax benefits can be obtained in the income tax return. Since last January 1, the regulations were modified so that if up to 250 euros are donated, the tax relief is 80%.
“It’s time to continue helping”
Religious congregations in Spain have mobilized these days to offer resources and support to the thousands of people affected by DANA and have encouraged them to “continue helping” and “not forget those who suffer there” when the worst is over, according to testimonies. collected by the Spanish Conference of Religious (Confer). Thus, the Salesian houses of Valencia, since October 31, have been in contact with the Emergency Committee of Cáritas Valencia “to coordinate the different responses according to the needs”, as the coordinator of Pastoral of Salesians San Antonio Abad of Valencia, Mercedes Ayza.
On the other hand, the Diocesan Youth Delegation of the Archdiocese of Valencia is organizing, for people who want to go to Valencia at some point to help, a campaign to be able to manage where they can help, what they need to bring and a place where you can eat and sleep. Interested parties should write to ‘[email protected]’ informing about the availability of dates and the number of people who sign up, so that they can better channel the help.
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