Friday 9 May 2008

Caritas Australia supports the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference (ACBC)in their National Day of Prayer for Burma on Sunday 11 May, 2008.

The Australian Catholic community stands in solidarity with the people of Burma who are suffering so greatly from the tragic effects of Cyclone Nargis.

"We call on people of faith to pray for all the people in Burma, for the enormous suffering they have endured with the great tragedy that is emerging to us in the wake of Cyclone Nargis," said Mr de Groot.

"We know that a million people are homeless and tens of thousands have been killed. Tragically, we may not yet have heard the worst of this crisis."

The Catholic Church, through its international aid agency, Caritas, is delivering assistance to the needy.

"The urgent need for clean water, food, shelter and medical attention remains severely hindered in many of the worst affected areas in the Irrawaddy Delta," said Mr de Groot.

Caritas’ partnership across the world with grassroots organisations is also strong in Burma and faith communities, including Catholic, Buddhist, and others are among the first to deliver assistance.

The Bishops asked parishes to pray for those who had died and for those who were suffering.

"May the Spirit who came into the world on Pentecost Sunday fill those who are mourning their loved ones and those who are suffering dislocation, injury and devastation in Burma, with strength to endure their great burden."

Donate to Caritas' Burma appeal online at www.caritas.org.au.