Brazil - the most populous Catholic country in the world, is suffering a flood, comparable to those in Asia and New Orleans - though the casualties are much less. Here are some pictures from the southern state of Santa Catarina. You could download also the whole PPT.
Let Pray, and if possible, Help financially our brothers and sisters!
Sometimes we just forget that most of the Catholics in this world live outside what is considered the "developed West". To be precise - half of them live in Latin America. Brazil is the single country on Earth with most Catholics. Many of them are descendants of Europeans (who colonized the Southern part of the American continent approximately the same period or earlier than its Northern part). Others are descendants of Africans (as in Southeastern US states), or native American Indians (as in some Western US states). Particularly in Santa Catarina state many of the people trace their heritage back to German and Italian settlers.
Beyond the heritage lines, they all are our brothers and sisters in Christ, for "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus". (Galatians 3:28
We'd like those words of Apostle Paul whose jubilee year we celebrate, to reach the minds and hearts of the "Christian politicians" in the Northern Hemisphere. Many of them just prefer to ignore the fact their countries are being given much more, not because of their personal deeds, and would be required much more in return. That their countries are what they are, thanks to the Christian heritage (either Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox) that is God's blessing for centuries, and not thanks to the Wall Street or European stock exchanges, not thanks to today's actions as politicians or economists. That not recognizing the affluence as being God's gift and the responsibilities together with it, could only result in material disasters besides the spiritual ones. That the Kingdom of God once was taken away from the Jews to be given to the Christendom, what is known today as "the developed West", and could be taken and given again to those who bear its fruits of righteousness and love.
We have no illusion there won't be much governmental help from the watching world outside, as there weren't much for similar disasters elsewhere. At least let us do whatever is within our capabilities. We will be abundantly rewarded by doing so!
