Small communities with a big heart have joined together to kick off the SVD African Hurricane Appeal, by donating generously to assist the recovery of people in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Mali, who had their homes and communities destroyed.
Mission Secretary, Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD, says that some of the Divine Word Missionaries’ ethnic chaplaincy communities and parish and chapel communities were among the first to respond to the call for assistance.
“The Chinese and Slovak communities in Sydney have given generously after Fr Henry Adler SVD, who is chaplain to those communities, invited them to give to the appeal,” says Fr Truc.
“And our parish communities at Kingston-Marsden in Queensland and Preston in Victoria, have also been very generous, as well as our St Arnold Janssen Chapel community in Marsfield.”
Other parishes have indicated they will promote the appeal in coming weeks.
“We are so very grateful to all who have supported our appeal so far and we invite others to join in this emergency support and rebuilding effort for our brothers and sisters who have been so badly affected by this terrible event,” says Fr Truc.
The Divine Word Missionaries last month launched the special appeal to help the victims of Hurricane Idai, which hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi recently, to get back onto their feet and rebuild their lives.
The SVD AUS Province is taking part in the appeal and welcomes any donations which could assist in the recovery effort.
Fr Truc says that with the support of the SVD Generalate in Rome and the Diocese of Beira in the worst-hit area, SVD confreres were able to distribute food items for about 500 people soon after the disaster hit.
“The confreres are in the process of planning for further help, such as food and clothing distribution, helping people to rebuild their houses, and repair church facilities,” he says.
SVD Superior-General Fr Paul Budi Kleden, says the SVD relief appeal fund will be used for the victims of Hurricane Idai: for the distribution of food, clothing and other immediate needs, for the reconstruction of houses, and the repair of church facilities. It will continue to operate and help people with their rebuilding needs for a period of up to two years as needed.
Over the coming weeks, all funds donated to the SVD AUS Province’s Overseas Aid Fund will go directly to the people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to help them with their immediate desperate needs for food, water and shelter, but also for their needs as they seek to rebuild their lives.
You can donate securely online by clicking here or send a cheque to Divine Word Missionary Appeal Office, Locked Bag 3, Epping NSW, 1710, Australia.