El Paso Catholics called on to help Ebola-plagued West Africa; collection to be taken this weekend

Pope Francis appealed to Catholics worldwide to help “annihilate” the Ebola virus and help the millions of people affected by the potentially deadly disease.

Catholic News Service reports, “As the Ebola virus epidemic worsens, I want to express my deep concern for this relentless illness that is spreading particularly on the African continent and especially among populations that are already disadvantaged,” the pope said in his general address Oct. 29.

“I ask you to pray for them and for all who have lost their lives,” the pope said.

El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz called on El Paso Catholics to help relief organizations with a special collection the weekend of Nov. 15-16.

“The Catholic Church continues to maintain a presence in West Africa working in extraordinary ways to bring healing and consolation to those affected by the virus …,” the bishop said.

Monies collected in the El Paso Diocese will be sent to Catholic Relief Services which will distribute the money where needed.

According to Catholic News Service, the World Health Organization reported Oct. 25 that “10,141 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported” in Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States, as well as previously in Nigeria and Senegal, where the disease reportedly has been contained. As of Oct. 23, the report said, 4,922 of those infected had died.

More on the ebola virus,click here: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/index.html

Source: Catholic Diocese of El Paso