Metropolitan PHILIP Appeal for Chile Earthquake Relief

1/3/2010

TO BE READ FROM THE PULPIT

“Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”  (Acts 2:44-45)

Once again we are confronted with the images of destruction, death and human tragedy in the wake of the severe earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday, February 27th, 2010.  More than 700 are confirmed to have died, with the toll expected to be higher.  More than 1.5 million people are homeless or without shelter.  I have been in touch with my brother, Metropolitan SERGIOS (Abd), the Primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Chile.  His Eminence is personally safe and sound, but several of his churches have suffered damage from the earthquake, and the status of some of the faithful is still to be determined.  As the quote above from the Book of Acts reminds us, it has always been the tradition of the Church to help any brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. 

As such, we are asking all of our parishes and missions to appeal for prayers and donations in order to assist those who are in need in Chile.
We do understand that this appeal is coming very shortly after the appeal for Haitian relief, and we recognize that these appeals draw on financial resources which are already strained by the poor economy.  However, the humanitarian need is great, and our people have never hesitated to give generously when people are in need.

May our Lord bless the remainder of your Lenten journey.

Your father in Christ,
Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate
The Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North
America

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