Parishioners urged to help Sudan crisis

August 19, 2004

Pastor,

This week I have received information from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops regarding the horrible situation in Sudan - tremendous suffering by those people because of war and hatred. It is a situation which world leaders are calling the "worst humanitarian crises in the world."

Bishop John Ricard, chairman of the Bishops' Committee on International Policy, has visited that region and heard from people of Darfur of how they live in a state of perpetual fear and do not have enough food or water to keep themselves and their children alive. He has reported this to Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the USCCB, who in turn is writing to us about the tragedy.

Catholic Relief Services, working with the Catholic Church in Sudan and other Catholic agencies from around the world, is responding to this crisis, but they need our prayers and our help as the lives of hundreds of thousands of people hang in the balance.

As diocesan administrator, I write to you, urging you to make this a time of prayer, solidarity and assistance to the suffering people of Sudan. I urge you to consider asking your parishioners to offer special prayers on the weekend of Aug. 22, 2004.

Here is a suggested intercessory prayer that I ask you to include in the Prayer of the Faithful on that weekend: "For our suffering brothers and sisters of Sudan, and most especially in Darfur - may their suffering come to an end and may they experience justice and peace in their land... we pray to the Lord..."

I also invite you to consider taking up a special collection on that weekend for the millions of Sudanese who are suffering. Catholic Relief Services will ensure that the funds go to the Sudanese people who are most in need. If you decide to take up a special collection on Aug. 21-22, 2004, please send your check to the Diocese of Sioux City, earmarked Sudanese Special Collection, and we will forward these offerings to Catholic Relief Services.

Please remit your offering by Sept. 15, 2004. Let us join our prayers and sacrifices with the suffering people of Sudan, that the conflict might end and the rights and dignity of each and every person might be respected.

May God bless your efforts.

Msgr. Roger Augustine
Diocesan administrator