Emergency COVID special collection for the Church in India and Brazilv

As you may know, there is immense suffering and loss of life occurring in India and Brazil due to the pandemic. The Catholic Church, through Catholic Relief Services (CRS), is on the ground in those countries working to support local hospitals and programs which are being overwhelmed and which have reached a breaking point. 

Given our own experience in the United States with regards to the pandemic and the important role the Church has in being able to respond to global events, we have an opportunity to assist relief efforts in India and Brazil.  To learn more about CRS efforts in the affected areas please click here.

With that in mind, Cardinal Seán has asked me to place before you, for your consideration, having an Emergency COVID special collection for the Church in India and Brazil to be taken the weekends of May 29-30 or June 5-6 in all parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston.

The size and scope of the crisis is enormous. In India more 24 million cases have been reported with deaths surpassing 260,000. In Brazil, cases have surpassed 15 million while more than 428,000 deaths have been reported. This global pandemic is both historic and devastating in its impact. More than 161 million cases have been reported and more than 3.3 million deaths.

To process this collection, please ask parishioners to address their checks to your parish, with “India and Brazil Relief” in the memo.

One check should be sent from the parish, payable to the Archdiocese of Boston, with “India and Brazil Relief” in the memo. Please send checks to:

Attn: Cashier, c/o India and Brazil Relief
Archdiocese of Boston Pastoral Center
66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, MA 02184-3839

On behalf of the Cardinal, thank you for your attentiveness to this important collection and expression of our solidarity with those who are suffering.

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Very Rev. William P. Joy
Assistant Vicar for Administration
Special Assistant to the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia