Praying cardinalCardinal Brady will celebrate Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral Armagh on Sunday 17th November at 11am for the people of the Philippines.

We the people of the Archdiocese of Armagh join our prayers with Pope Francis and the rest of the world, as we pray for the people of the Philippines.

Loving Lord, we come to you trusting in your mercy
and knowing that your steadfast love endures forever.
Look with mercy on those who have been harmed
or displaced by this disaster.
Grant them your strength to meet the days ahead.
Allow those who are affected to experience your peace
which passes all understanding and new hope in the resurrection.
Move those who are able to give aid,
that we may be your hands and heart on the earth.
Be with all who offer your assistance;
may your Spirit uphold them.
To you we face and join hands for the challenges ahead.
Give us the assurance of your presence
even in this time so that we can cling to your promise of hope
and life shown us through the personal sacrifices of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen

 “The Philippines is a country close to the hearts of many Irish people, not least through the work of Irish missionary priests, religious and lay people. The large Filipino community in Ireland has a special place in our parishes” – Cardinal Brady

 

Information note, Super Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines

The Trustees of Trócaire have agreed that Sunday’s special church collection should be shared with the Philippines, given the enormous tragedy that has befallen the country.

 “I wish to express my closeness to the people of the Philippines and of that region. Unfortunately there are many victims and the damage is enormous. We pray now in silence … for our brothers and sisters, and we will seek to also send concrete help,” Pope Francis told thousands of pilgrims after his weekly Angelus from his window over St. Peter’s Square.

Here is some background information:

  • Super Typhoon Haiyan (local name “Yolanda”) made landfall on Friday morning, 8 November, on the southern tip of the Eastern Visayas island of Samar as a Category 5 super typhoon with 195 mph winds. The typhoon travelled west through Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Panay and Palawan Islands before exiting the Philippines on Saturday.

  • The damage from Haiyan is catastrophic. The city of Tacloban in Leyte was particularly hard-hit, with widespread destruction and loss of life reported. Caritas Philippines estimate that over 10,000 people have been killed and 600,000 have been displaced from their homes. Tacloban city is without power, water and food.

  • The United Nations estimate that almost 10 million people have been affected.

  • This is a major humanitarian crisis and Trócaire is responding with our Caritas partners – we have already committed €100,000 to support their work. We are also supporting the work of Irish missionaries in the affected regions. The International Caritas Network is putting together an international team to support the effort and a Trócaire staff member is part of that team. The public have been making donations in person at our centres in Dublin, Cork and Belfast and online at www.trocaire.org.

  • Trócaire’s partner, Catholic Relief Services (USA) has sent rapid assessment teams to the typhoon-hit regions. Eight thousand tarpaulins are currently being distributed to provide temporary shelter for survivors. Agencies working on the ground are also assessing water and sanitation needs to prevent the spread of water-bourne diseases, which will be one of the immediate threats to survivors. Irish public donations will be used to provide water, food, shelter and medicines to those who are most affected.

  • According to Fr. Edwin Gariguez of Caritas Philippines: “It’s a great catastrophe, our emergency planning is underway. It’s the strongest and biggest storm that has hit the country. It’s hit an area already devastated by an earthquake. It’s a really big calamity.”

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