August 14, 2025
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
In union with our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, we continue to pray for the families affected by the violence in the Gaza Strip: both for the families of the hostages who have yet to be released, and for the families struggling to feed their children.
Images of the immense suffering have been broadcast on social media, news channels, and in blogs, and the need for humanitarian assistance is desperate. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), through the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), joins in the mission to assist those in need in the Gaza Strip and across the Middle East. Both CNEWA and CRS have a long history of working in the countries around the Holy Land and have established partnerships with local churches most able to assist those most in need.
I ask the parishes of the Diocese of Palm Beach to participate in this humanitarian relief and invite the pastors to take a special collection for the assistance of those so harshly affected. This collection will be given to CNEWA and to CRS to assist with humanitarian relief. You may also make your donation directly to either organization, www.cnewa.org or www.crs.org All this information can be obtained from the appeal on our diocesan website https://www.diocesepb.org/gaza-humanitarian-relief.html.
Thank you very much for your care and concern for all who are adversely affected by war and violence, especially those in Gaza, the Ukraine and Sudan. May God continue to bless you and your families, and may our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Peace, always intercede for you.
With every prayerful wish, I am
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito Bishop of Palm Beach
