Keeping you close in prayer following historic storms

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ 

Many areas of our beautiful Diocese of Metuchen, like many other parts our state, were significantly impacted by historic flooding and storms last night from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which had already torn through Louisiana, leaving over a million there without power and with serious damage.

As we continue to deal with the effects of Hurricane Ida, both locally and nationally, and as we continue to hear of the devastation in Haiti and of the heartbreaking situation in Afghanistan, the disasters seem to be in abundance. Gratefully, so too does the grace.
With the many stories we hear, we remember too the many stories that often go untold. The stories that often go unnoticed because of their unsensational endings are often the most sensational of all: neighbors helping one another in the light of the Gospel, the human person recognizing in another the same inherent human dignity, and people offering care for a stranger or support to those most in need. Yes, our diocese is blessed with an abundance of grace!

We are only 24 hours from when the flooding in our area first began, and we have already received calls and comments from people offering their prayers for the affected, their support, and wanting to know how they can help. I am continually inspired and humbled by your generosity. If you would like to contribute to the Emergency Disaster Fund to support those in need of assistance, please visit: https://diometuchen.org/disasterfund.
The funds collected in this special appeal will become part of the Emergency Disaster Fund and will be used to support the efforts of Catholic agencies as they work to aid emergency relief efforts locally and nationally, unless otherwise specified. Your contribution will be used for immediate emergency needs, such as water, food, shelter, and medical care, and aid in long-term rebuilding and recovery efforts. I am grateful for your generous support of this collection.

Additionally, I am thankful too for our pastors and all our clergy, those on our diocesan staff and those working in our parishes and schools, and certainly to the men and women working for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, who have already begun working to assess the needs in our area. If you are in need of assistance, please call Catholic Charities at (732) 387-1315.

Please know that you and your families have been in my prayers in these last weeks and days, but even more so in these past 24 hours. I ask that you kindly keep me in yours too. In your goodness, I also ask that you join me in praying for the souls of the departed and their loved ones, for those who lost their homes, cars or other property, and for all first responders who continue to come to the assistance of those in need of help.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe, through whom our diocese was consecrated, continue to protect us under her mantle and intercede for all those affected, lovingly caring for us as a mother does her children.

With renewed best wishes, I remain
Yours in Christ,
 

Most Reverend James F. Checchio, JCD, MBA

Bishop of Metuchen