Parishes will take up special collection for Christians in the Middle East on Sept. 6-7

Bishop Michael Mulvey has asked all parishes in the Diocese of Corpus Christi to take up a special collection to provide humanitarian relief and pastoral support for Christians in the Middle East that are under attack for practicing their faith. The collection will be taken up at all Masses on the weekend of Sept. 6-7.

"We who have so much should be prepared to help our brothers," Bishop Mulvey said. "We must be witnesses to our faith."

The collected funds will be used by Catholic Relief Services and other Catholic agencies working in partnership with the local Church to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs facing the people in Iraq, Gaza, Syria and surrounding countries where refugees have fled. Bishop Mulvey said, these organizations have well-established partnerships with the Catholic Church in the region, which allow them to respond quickly and efficiently to victims in some of the hardest to reach areas.

Funds will also be used to support Church programs to aid persecuted Christians and to respond to rebuilding needs of Catholic dioceses in the impacted areas.

Bishop Mulvey asks the faithful to generous and expressed his appreciation.