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building destroyed by earthquakeEARTHQUAKE
Your Prayers and Support Needed in New Zealand

New Zealand constitutes one of the largest and oldest provinces of the Society of Mary dating back to the original missionary efforts of the Society in Oceania in the 1830’s and 1840’s.  Having been a missionary enterprise in its earliest days it is still known for its generous donations of its best men for Marist missionary efforts around the world. 

We in the USA Province were deeply moved by the tragedy in Christchurch on this past Tuesday, February 22nd.  We have been in communication back and forth sharing our sentiments and solidarity.  We were informed that our Marists and their families are all safe even though many have suffered significant property losses which they tell us are as nothing compared to the deaths and injuries in Christchurch.

New Zealand Marist PresbyteryThe presbytery (rectory) of our main parish there was destroyed, having been damaged already in the earthquake this past fall.  This earthquake seems to have been an aftershock of the earlier earthquake even though it has been significantly more damaging and caused much more injury and loss of life.

We ask you to join us in prayer for the people of New Zealand.  The provincial there, Fr. Brian Cummings, SM, tells us that it is so small a nation that almost every family in the country has been affected by losses in one way or another.  The total deaths in Christchurch have been large but not yet accurately determined. 

Church in Wellington, NZShould you wish to contribute to the relief efforts, you could not do better than to go on the US Catholic Relief Services website and make a contribution directly through that website at crs-blog.org/supporting-the-victims-of-the-new-zealand-earthquake. 

While  CRS does not operate in New Zealand, it is funneling the funds directly to Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, CRS's partner agency. You can also donate directly to Caritas at http://www.caritas.org.nz. 

Thank you for your prayer and support of New Zealand in their time of need.

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